On April 12 at the training ground in Nowa Dęba, the head of the Ministry of Defense observed the training of Polish and American troops. Soldiers from the United States practiced on ABRAMS tanks and BRADLEY combat vehicles, while Polish soldiers from the 18th Mechanized Division exercised using KRAB cannon howitzers, ROSOMAK transporters, RAK self-propelled mortars and POPRAD anti-aircraft sets.

I thank for this very close military cooperation between US soldiers and troops of the Polish Armed Forces. We have just seen a demonstration of power, a demonstration of skill and agility, but also of very good cooperation between Polish and American forces.  (...) In the middle of this year, the first copies of Abrams will go to the equipment of the Polish Armed Forces, namely to the 18th Mechanized Division, the "Iron Division" and the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade. The task of these tanks will be to seal the Brest gate. Thus, to put up an unbreachable dam. A dam that will cause that, should the aggressor decide to attack Poland, he will not succeed

- said the head of the Ministry of Defense.

In April 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed a contract to procure 250 M1A2 Abrams tanks in the state-of-the-art SEPv3 version for the Polish Armed Forces. Poland has also ordered 116 Abrams tanks, which the U.S. Army has so far had at its disposal. The purchase of the tanks is part of the Polish Armed Forces' modernization plan.

Even before the Russian attack on Ukraine, I planned the development of the Polish Armed Forces. A plan of technical modernization was created for the period up to 2035. Now, we are working on its extension to 2039 (...) Our goal is to build the strongest Army in Europe. (...) I has approved the largest ever contracts for the purchase of armaments for the Polish Armed Forces. In 2018 it was the Patriot system, i.e. the anti-aircraft and anti-missile system, in 2019 Himars missiles with a range of up to 300 km, in 2020 F-35 aircraft - the most modern aircraft in the world, in 2021 American Abrams tanks

- Deputy Prime Minister noted.

The head of the Ministry of Defense, speaking of the Polish-American alliance, pointed out that Poland is also strengthening industrial cooperation with the US. Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak referred to his conversation with the vice president of General Dynamics - the company that produces Abrams tanks.

We discussed the establishment of a service facility for Abrams tanks. It will, needless to say, primarily concern Polish Abrams, but we know that other European countries are interested in buying Abrams. We also know that the US government has decided to transfer Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Therefore, Poland is becoming a natural service hub, and probably also a production center when it comes to Abrams tanks in the future.( ...) We have advanced talks with Raytheon as well, with the company which is the manufacturer of Javelin anti-tank missiles. And again we are on the right track towards locating production of these weapons in Poland

- said Deputy Prime Minister M. Blaszczak.

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak also mentioned the strengthening of the Polish Armed Forces in terms of the numbers.

Only last year, 13,742 new soldiers joined the professional military service. This was the largest number since the abolition of mandatory military service. It means that our campaign is bearing positive results, that there are plenty of people willing to join the Polish Armed Forces. For this, I express my gratitude. This is something I am greatly glad with, and I encourage others to join the Polish Armed Forces.

- noted Deputy Prime Minister M. Blaszczak