Poland prepares largest Armed Forces Day parade with F-35s, 10,000 soldiers and allied contingents

Rehearsal confirms readiness

Poland's armed forces completed a general rehearsal on Sunday, 9 August, on Warsaw's Wisłostrada ahead of what the Defence Ministry calls the largest Armed Forces Day parade in the country's history. Chief of the General Staff Gen. Wiesław Kukuła told reporters that everything proceeded according to plan. The rehearsal began at 6:00 a.m. and followed a Saturday trial aircraft flyover between 11:30 and 13:30 over the Vistula. Crowds of residents and tourists gathered to watch, with observers noting how quiet modern tanks are compared to older models that belched smoke and noise.

We are finishing the general rehearsal with satisfaction. Everything went according to plans. We are prepared for the parade.

Scale of the 15 August parade

The main parade will take place on 15 August along Warsaw's Wisłostrada, marking the 106th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw. Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Bejda announced that over 300 land equipment units and 60 aircraft will participate, with 1,800 soldiers marching (including 103 women) and approximately 9,000 involved in preparation. All branches of the armed forces will be represented: land forces, air force, navy, special forces, territorial defence, military police, military academies, uniformed classes, and active reserve units. Gen. Kukuła stated that 10,000 soldiers will demonstrate the transformation of the armed forces across Warsaw and other Polish cities.

Equipment on display will include Abrams, K2, and Leopard 2PL tanks, Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles, Rosomak transports, Krab and Rak artillery, K9 howitzers, vehicles fitted with anti-drone shields, and new PFM pontoon parks. F-35 fighters in Polish colours will fly over Warsaw for the first time, alongside Pilica+ anti-aircraft systems. Horses will be the only animals participating.

Allied participation

Allied forces from the United States, Canada, Australia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, and Romania will join the parade. Gen. Kukuła noted that the French contingent is the largest among allied armies.

This year the subunit was provided by the Foreign Legion.

Naval parade in Gdynia and Gdańsk

A naval parade will run in parallel on 15 August at 12:00 in the Gulf of Gdańsk, between Gdynia and Gdańsk. Over 20 vessels will participate, including frigates, corvettes, hydrographic ships, and mine destroyers, joined by allied navies from Estonia, Lithuania, and Sweden.

First for promotions and continued operations

For the first time during the celebrations, general and admiral nominations will be presented before the honorary stand. Bejda called the occasion important for the entire Polish army, not only the newly promoted and their families.

This is a celebration important not only for the newly promoted soldiers and their families, but for the entire Polish army.

Gen. Kukuła emphasised that 15 August will remain a normal day of service. Operations Wschodnia Zorza (airspace defence) and Bezpieczne Podlasie (border support with the Border Guard) will continue, and 10,000 soldiers will be engaged in daily protection of Polish airspace. The soldiers dedicate the parade, in Kukuła's words, to all Poles who pay taxes and contribute to the equipment the military uses.