Poland is setting up a new division that will operate primarily in the northeast of the country.

Mariusz Błaszczak, Minister of National Defense, shared that the newly created 1st Legions Infantry Division will be equipped with the most modern equipment that the Polish army has.

The Division will, in particular, be equipped with South Korean and American main battle tanks.

“The division will be equipped with modern weapons. Whereas the 16th Mechanised Division will be equipped primarily with K2 tanks, and the 18th Infantry Division with Abrams tanks, the Podlaskie division will be equipped with both K2 and Abrams tanks.

It is important to make the most of these modern weapons that are already arriving in Poland. The Polish Military is already equipped with the first K2 tanks. The Abrams tanks will arrive in 2023,” Błaszczak said.

In addition, the artillery brigade, which will be part of the new division, will receive 155-mm K9 self-propelled howitzers produced in South Korea, along with the Polish Krab self-propelled howitzer and Gladius UAVs, which will work in cooperation with the artillery.

In total, the new division will consist of four brigades, each with four battalions.

The creation of another division is part of the plan to strengthen the Polish military, in particular by increasing the number of personnel.

At the end of last year, the Polish Army had 164,000 soldiers.

Currently, the number of Polish army servicemen is being increased to 300,000.

Previously, Poland signed a $3.37 billion contract with the Korean Hyundai Rotem company to supply 180 K2 tanks during 2022-2025, 10 of which were received by the Polish Armed Forces in 2022. The Poles will receive training and logistical support along with combat vehicles, as well as a significant supply of ammunition.

Additionally, in April 2022, Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak signed a contract to purchase 250 M1A2 Abrams SEP V3 tanks. In addition, on January 4, 2023, Poland signed a contract to purchase another 116 M1A1 Abrams tanks.