Ireneusz Nowak

Poland's Operational Commander Maj. Gen. Nowak tells Defence24 80% of military focus is air defense

Major General Ireneusz Nowak, Poland's Operational Commander, said in an interview that approximately 80% of the military's operational focus is directed toward air defense, with an integrated system still years from completion. Nowak also called for sovereign strategic airlift capabilities and additional combat squadrons. He emphasized Poland requires "warriors, not scientists" in training programmes.

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Poland's operational commander says 80% of focus is air defense, with integrated system still years away

Maj. Gen. Ireneusz Nowak, Poland's operational commander, said 80 percent of the Polish Armed Forces' attention is focused on air defense, with the ground and air components of Poland's integrated air-defense network still three to four years from completion. The statement follows repeated Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace.

Why it matters: Poland is allocating most of its operational effort to air defense while the architecture to execute it remains incomplete — a snapshot of NATO's eastern flank in 2026.

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