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“List of Shame” Grows: No Black Hawks or Submarines for Polish Armed Forces

Just a few days ago, we learned that the Polish Armed Forces would not be receiving 32 Black Hawk helicopters. Today brings another piece of bad news of a similar nature. Specifically, the Navy cannot count on—at least not this year—receiving any new submarines. “The list of shame keeps growing,” commented Mariusz Błaszczak, former Minister of National Defense.

At the end of November last year, during the Navy Day celebrations, the current Minister of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, stated: “We will do everything to sign a contract for the delivery of modern submarines next year. The ‘Orka’ program is a matter of honor for us.”

However, today, just a few months after that declaration, Rzeczpospolita reports: “Contrary to government assurances, there is no chance that Poland will sign a contract for the purchase of submarines by the end of the year. There is now not even a guarantee that a country from which we intend to buy them will be selected this year.”

First helicopters, now ships

This is yet another piece of bad news for the Polish military in recent days. On Friday, the Armament Agency—which is responsible for procuring equipment for the Polish Armed Forces—announced it had canceled the procurement process for 32 additional S-70i Black Hawk helicopters from the PZL Mielec plant for the military.

Błaszczak: The list of shame is growing

Mariusz Błaszczak, former Minister of National Defense, responded to Rzeczpospolita’s report on social media. As he wrote, the “list of shame” continues to grow.

“The Ministry of Defense promised to sign a contract for submarines this year. We already know that won’t happen,”

he began.

He then listed the equipment that the Polish Armed Forces will not be receiving, even though they should have.

“K9 howitzers – not delivered, K2 tanks – halted, HIMARS launchers – not delivered, Black Hawk helicopters – canceled, Orka submarines – delayed,”

Błaszczak enumerated.
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