Poles plan to provide Dana artillery systems for their territorial defence

According to the Polish portal Defence24, the artillery is to be provided to both the existing territorial defence brigades and the new ones that will be formed to cover the so-called Eastern Shield.

Here's What We Know

Poland's plans for the development of territorial defence for 2025 provide for the allocation of its own artillery to individual territorial defence brigades. At the first stage, it is planned to transfer 152 mm Dana wheeled self-propelled artillery systems from the ground forces, and the next step is to purchase 105 mm artillery systems, the type of which has not yet been determined.

Currently, there are 20 brigades in the Polish territorial defence, with 42,500 servicemen. The average level of equipment is 70.9%, but some brigades have a level below this figure.

According to the plans, six existing brigades of the TRO and two of the four new Eastern Shield cover brigades are to receive their artillery by 2024. The transfer of equipment is scheduled for 2026-2028. The artillery systems will be at the disposal of fire support companies, which indicates their limited number.

The Polish military leadership has not yet decided whether these will be towed or self-propelled 105-mm artillery systems. Among the possible options is the experimental US 2-CT Hawkeye, which was received by the Ukrainian Defence Forces for testing in 2024.

Another option is the French towed howitzers LG1 Mk III from Nexter. They have a barrel life of up to 7,000 rounds, a rate of fire of up to 12 rounds per minute, a range of 2 to 17 km, and their export value as of 2023 is $2.25 million.

Source: Defence24