The Abrams Tank Training Academy was officially opened in Poznań on Wednesday (August 10). Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, who was at the opening ceremony, said his office's task was to increase Poland's defence capabilities. "Equipping Polish Armed Forces with state-of-the-art tanks serves this very purpose, because Abrams tanks are the most modern tanks in the world," the minister added.
A training session on Abrams tanks for Polish soldiers took place on Wednesday at the Land Forces Training Centre in Poznań. The practice was watched by the minister of defence.
In his speech, Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said the launched training course opened an option to quickly prepare Polish soldiers and technicians to handle Abrams tanks. "Our goal is to have the tanks - once they become part of Polish Army's equipment - ready to be used by trained soldiers and that's what is going to happen," he assured.
"Our task is to increase defence capabilities of the Republic of Poland. Equipping Polish Armed Forces with state-of-the-art tanks serves this very purpose, because Abrams tanks are the most modern tanks in the world," Błaszczak said. "We also want to build interoperability with the United States Army," he stressed.
"Today Poland officially opens the Abrams Tank Training Academy, training Polish crews on M1A2 Abrams tanks. Poland recently announced the purchase of 250 tanks from the United States; increasing readiness, lethality, and interoperability on NATO’s Eastern Flank. #StrongerTogether!" - U.S. Army V Corps said on Twitter.
Ministry of National Defence signed a contract in April on 250 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks, which are to be delivered in 2025-2026. This year Polish Army is to receive 28 older SEPv2 tanks for training purposes.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP