CASR

Canadian
American
Strategic
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Poland  –  Armed Forces  –  Southern Afghanistan  –  Helicopters  –  February  2008 Poland  will  deploy  Helicopters,  UAVs,  and  More  Troops  to Southern  Afghanistan  for  Counter - Insurgency  Operations Edited excerpts of  a speech  by  General Franciszek Gagor,  Polish Armed Forces  [1] [ Update  31 March 2008 –  CP reports that four additional Polish Mi-17s may be available for   Canadian Forces at Kandahar Airfield on “...a contribution basis”.  This report has yet to be   confirmed but a Canadian delegation is scheduled to visit Warsaw directly after Bucharest.] Poland  has traditionally been active in peace support and stabilization missions. During the recent decade, after Poland joined NATO, and then the EU, our participation in international operations  has  increased  significantly.  Through  these operations,  the Polish  military has undergone an  important  evolution.  Initially, our  tasks were logistical in nature. These have been replaced  by  peace enforcement  operations  conducted  first  by national, and  later  by multinational  units, some commanded  by Polish officers. The most  important operation  that  we contribute to at  present is the ISAF Afghan mission. We view the ISAF operation as a test of the Alliance’s reliability. At the same time, it is a test of  the  Polish  military's capacity  to conduct  operations  far  from  our  own  territory  under extreme  conditions.  By  having  the  Polish  troops  –  which operate without any caveats  – NATO commanders have the necessary operational and  tactical  flexibility. During the second half of 2008, Poland plans on enlarging its  military  contingent  to  the  ISAF  operation,  from  the current  1,200  troops  to roughly  1,600.  We will also form two  OMLTs  (Observer and  Military Liaison Teams)  and take  over  the  responsibilities  of  the  Sharana  Provincial Reconstruction Team. [ Most importantly from a Canadian perspective] ,  Poland  plans to deploy eight  (8)  transport helicopters  along  with  their  technical  support  element. Gen. Gagor  made  comments  on  the  importance  of  helicopters  for  troop  morale   [2] "Helicopters are precious.  Without helicopters,  in our experience,  infantry should  not be sent  out,  as this  makes  them  very  vulnerable," said Gen. Gagor.  He added  that  the real 'show stopper'  is a  force without  mobile  medical care [ Poland now has medevac  Mi-17s]. General Gagor said that  Polish Forces would  be deploying  to Afghanistan additional  heli- copters  –   Mi-8s,  Mi-17s, and  Mi-24s  –  that  had been bought  (not brand new, but with better engines)  to provide capability  in  'hot-and-high' conditions.  They were upgraded  – with  countermeasures ,  engine  exhaust  diffusers [ Ed: not yet fitted ],  improved  armour , better communications,  'friend-or-foe'  identification [ IFF ],  and  night  vision  capabilities. "Helicopters,"  General  Gagor  said,  "provide  a  good  feeling  to  soldiers  –  that  is,  the feeling  that  they  have  a  better  chance  of  survival." Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski  visited  Canada,  offering  troops and  helicopters   [3] [After  a  formal  speech  before  an  Ottawa  audience,  Poland's  Foreign  Minister,  Radek  Sikorski,  gave  interviews  to  members  of  the  local  press.  Excerpts  of  articles  follow.] Poland is sending  400 soldiers to Afghanistan to join the approximately 1200 already in the country. Minister Sikorski said  that  Poland would put two (2) of  its eight (8) Russian-built helicopters [ both Mi-17 transports ]  "at  the disposal  of  Canada"  in  Kandahar  Province. "I can't  talk about  the details of  [ Poland's] deployment plan, but there will be more scope for Polish-Canadian cooperation."  He  confirmed  that  Polish  Special  Forces  are  already operating  in  Kandahar,  and  are  working  closely  with  Canadian  Forces  (CF)  there. "I hope [that this new Polish deployment] is a good beginning.  I  hope that we're showing that not only are Canada's contributions and sacrifices appreciated,  but also that Canada's voice  is  being  heard.  In  the  run-up  to  the  NATO  Summit  in  Bucharest  [ this  April ], we  will  certainly ... be  arguing  very  forcefully ... that  more  needs  to  be  done ..." More excerpts from the briefing by  General Gagor to the  Royal United Strategic Institute Experience  [ in the theatre ]  has shown, however, that for  better  command and control, our forces should  be concentrated  in one  part of  Afghanistan. We want to take   responsibility   for   the   safety   of   one   of   the provinces  in  the  Eastern  region.  Currently, a  part of our  'Special Operations Force'  (SOF) conducts tasks in the southern region of Afghanistan. Another 'lesson learned' is the strong need for aerial reconnaissance capabilities  –  UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. [4]  They provide the commanders with a unique capability of  the real-time picture and, what is more important, with an opportunity to react immediately. UAVs provide a full spectrum of  different  types  of  data,  in all  types of  operations. We intend  to introduce UAVs on a larger scale [in Afghanistan] in order to provide the commanders with a tactical overview, and a clearer picture at the operational level. When  planning  our  deployment  to  ISAF, we realized that the Polish contingent would need heavier vehicles in Afghanistan. We ... decided to send 8x8 Rosomak [5] Infantry Fighting Vehicles ( IFV ) equipped with a 30mm cannon and  to  have them  up-armoured  and  equipped with the NATO  Force Tracking Systems (NFTS).  So far these vehicles  have  proven  to be  IED-resistant. Not a single soldier has died in any incident involving attacks on the Rosomaks. Actually,  we have heard reports that the Taliban  purposefully  avoid  our  IFVs, because the vehicle  was  wreaking  serious  havoc  in  their  ranks. Recent combat operations have significantly accelerated reforms to the Polish Armed Forces. Continuous adaptation to the  new reality  is an ongoing process. Today we believe  that  by 2020  we will  have a more agile,  more expeditionary,  better-equipped, and more interoperable armed forces. They will be able to "plug-in" to multinational and joint operations. We want to have a military which will meet our expectations and future challenges.       [1]   Gen Gagor is the Chief of  the General Staff,  Polish Armed Forces.  This briefing               was presented to the  Royal United Services Institute  (RUSI),  04 February 2008.       [2]   An  executive summary of  General  Gagor's  RUSI  briefing  was  prepared  by               Andrew  Drwiega ,  publishing  director  of  the  UK - based  Shephard  Group.               This  summary  appeared  in  the  well - regarded  online  magazine,  Rotorhub.       [3]    Mr. Sikorski was formerly Defence Minister.  [ Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej ]       [4]    Orbiter mini UAVs were used by Polish special forces (Grom) in Afghanistan with               enough success to order more for regular forces.  Shadow 200 TUAVs are on order.       [5]    Rosomak ('Wolverine') is the Polish Army version of  the Finnish Patria ACV.  This               vehicle is equivalent to the CF's LAV III (and may be superior to it in some respects).