04-03-2023, 03:33 PM
(04-03-2023, 12:10 PM)M T Wrote:(04-02-2023, 04:57 PM)Treefence Wrote:It isn't clear whether this is what will happen, but this article considers the possibility of transfer of current equipment(04-02-2023, 03:48 PM)gocard14 Wrote: Ukraine reportedly getting 100 Rosomak APCs (Or wheeled IFV) from Poland. Notable (in addition to being modern vehicles) for being amphibious, which could aid operations to secure river crossings.
I believe these are being purchased, and likely will have to be manufactured first, so these might take a while to get to Ukraine.
Quote:In fact, it doesn't even matter that much, what type of vehicle Ukraine will receive – as long as the supply comes directly from the stocks of the Polish Armed Forces, and the Ukrainian funds are used to buy replenishment. This scheme would speed up the transfer. Although it is unclear whether Poland would agree to that because the country has already significantly exhausted its armor arsenal by sending tanks and IFVs to Ukraine.
Elsewhere I saw that the plant has produced 900 vehicles since 2008. That would mean years to get 100 new ones.
Interesting way to beef up the military budget: Get funds committed to Ukraine which then pays for new equipment (manufactured in Poland) to replace equipment sent to the Ukraine. The Polish military gets a benefit; the Polish economy gets a benefit; Finland's economy gets a benefit (the vehicles are licensed from Finland, if I read correctly); Ukraine gets a benefit; Russia gets drained a bit more.
It is also a bit of war game theory going on for Poland.
Giving Ukraine even more of their current capability (they have already been one of if not the biggest donator relative to country size) could weaken their current military in the short term.
On the other hand, it provides a lot of benefits:
1. It is more likely to keep the russian army away from Poland's border, so ironically weakening their military may make it less likely the military is needed.
2. It could strengthen/modernize their military in the long term, by using western funds to buy new systems to replace those sent to Ukraine
3. Poland has the benefit of NATO deterrence which Ukraine does not, so even if the polish military is weakened they are much more threatening to attack.
4. As part of 3, if the goal is maximum degredation of Russian military capacity, getting as much NATO equipment into the fight without directly involving NATO is the best bet
