Polish army asked to tighten its belt in the face of the crisis

(BRUSSELS2) There is a crisis everywhere. In Poland too. And the army could contribute to the general effort of budgetary economy (decision this Monday). Ihe defense budget should thus reach only 1,67% of GDP this year, according to indiscretions published by Gazeta Wyborcza, instead of 1,95% as guaranteed by law of 2001 on the modernization of the armed forces.

Le Deputy Minister of Defence, Stanislaw Komorowski, did not want to confirm the scale of the economy. But he acknowledged that the goal will not be met. Or, more precisely, because the budget specialists are astute: officially the figure of 1,95% remains unchanged... in the budget forecast. But, in the execution, we do not spend everything... Objective: to find savings of an amount of approximately 5 billion zlotys (out of a general effort of economy amounts to 17 billion and a defense budget of 25,3 billion zlotys).

Severe cuts in equipment programs or missions to
the stranger?

Some equipment purchase plans could therefore be reviewed. Programs such as the construction of the "Gawron" corvette - Polish variant of the German Meko A-100, this program started in 2001, postponed several times, proved to be very expensive - could be hit first. But also the equipment in armored personnel carriers "Rosomak" (derived from the Finnish Patria manufactured under license), the transport plane "Bryza", as well as the deliveries of equipment for the missile unit of the coast or the modernization air bases.

Another possible factor of economy: the manpower of certain external missions would be lowered. The reduction would rather concern the Balkans or the Middle East, or even Chad, specified Stanislaw Komorowski. But not the mission in Afghanistan" which would remain unchanged. Even the budget of 10 million for the organization of the NATO Council of Defense Ministers in Krakow in February could be affected by cutting back on certain expenses such as limousine rentals...

(photo: Corvette project Gaworn, Polish Navy)