Flying hussars in the camel country

Ahead of the NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland has finally done what it had long promised to do and joined the anti-terrorist campaign in the Middle East.

A send-off ceremony was held for Polish troops heading to Kuwait (where they will be based) at the Lask Military Air Base in the presence of Antoni Macierewicz, Minister of National Defence for Poland. He said that the deployment of Polish troops to fight Islamic State (a terrorist organization that is banned in Russia) was yet another show of solidarity among the Alliance’s members, which makes NATO the world’s most powerful and reliable military alliance. In his speech Macierewicz recalled a pre-summit agreement to deploy four battalions from the “old” NATO members in the Baltics. By sending troops to fight IS Poland is in turn honouring its duty as an ally.

Photo: iraqinews.com

During their non-stop, six to seven hour journey to the Middle East, the four Polish F-16 fighter jets were refuelled mid-air by KDC-10 tankers belonging to the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The Polish fighters are expected to fly reconnaissance missions over Iraq; for this purpose, they have been equipped with the UTC DB-110 tactical reconnaissance systems featuring image sensors that can snap photos over large areas in the visible and IR bands and transmit data in real time to a ground command centre. There are no plans at present for the Polish side to participate in bombing IS targets. Interestingly, the Italians also based in Kuwait are operating in a similar manner, with their Tornado jets flying reconnaissance missions only. Whereas in Italy’s case this is most likely caused by political considerations – they are not advertising their role in the noble fight against terrorism for fear of retaliatory terrorist attacks –Poland, apparently, lacks experience and is short on stockpiles of high-precision ammunition. This mission will be the first combat test for Poland’s fighter pilots and their first use of the fighter jets purchased from the United States [1]. A total of 130 troops will be deployed in Kuwait.

In addition to the aircraft stationed in Kuwait, Poland will deploy additional 60 troops in Iraq, where they will help train Iraqi soldiers. Estonia had previously announced a deployment of six military personnel to Iraq on a similar mission (link in Russian). President of Poland Andrzej Duda has ordered the missions to Kuwait and Iraq to continue through the end of this year, after which either a rotation or an extension can be expected. However, some smaller NATO members that had attacked IS positions in the past were forced to withdraw from the operation for financial reasons [2], so the Polish side might well return home after in the new year too.

Participation in the Iraq operation is important to Poland, which is vying for leadership among NATO’s “young” eastern members, for image considerations: not only does this place it on an equal footing with the Western nations, it also shows that the country possesses modern military equipment. The Polish military played a large role in the Afghanistan campaign, deploying a up to 2,500 troops and combat helicopters there.

Photo: REUTERS/Kacper Pempe

Minister of National Defence for Poland

1.      The contract for the purchase of 48 F-16C/D aircraft and related equipment and weapons worth $3.5 billion is the biggest defence contract with a former Eastern Bloc country. The Polish F-16 Block 52+ fighter jets, like Greece’s, are the most advanced in NATO.

 

2.      For instance, the Belgians withdrew their aircraft group a year ago before returning it only now, replacing the Dutch contingent.