For the first time, an Australian military aircraft has participated in this event
The Republic of Poland celebrates its Armed Forces Day every August 15th, and this time it celebrated with two simultaneous military parades.
Poland’s President on the anniversary of Russia’s 1920 defeat: “Russia is not invincible”
For the first time, German fighters will operate from Poland on a NATO BAP mission
This date has great significance for that Central European country: on August 15, 1920, Poland defeated Bolshevik Russia in the Battle of Warsaw, in what was the first major military defeat of communism. Today, Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, recalled that victory, stating that “Russia is not invincible.”
The first of today’s military events took place, as in previous years, in the country’s capital. Warsaw was the scene of a massive air and ground parade with 300 vehicles, 4,000 soldiers, 88 flag guards, and 50 aircraft, with which Poland once again demonstrated its growing military power: It is now one of the best-armed European countries in NATO, thanks to an unprecedented rearmament process in the face of the threat of Russian expansionism.
In addition, the Hel Peninsula hosted a naval parade featuring 20 Polish Navy vessels, including frigates, corvettes, submarines, minesweepers, and other vessels. You can watch the Polish Army’s simultaneous broadcast of both parades here (the video is in Polish; you can activate automatic English subtitles in the bottom bar of the player):
Both the air and ground parade in Warsaw were attended by foreign guests. The skies above the Polish capital saw US F-35 stealth fighters, Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters, French Rafales, German Eurofighters, and an Australian Boeing E-7A Wedgetail early warning aircraft. This is the first time that German fighters and an Australian aircraft have participated in this event. As we recently saw, German Eurofighters are performing their first NATO Air Policing mission in Poland. You can see some photos of the parade published by the Polish Ministry of National Defense here.
The Polish Army’s new Leonardo AW149 multipurpose helicopters. Poland expects to receive 32 units.
A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing E-7 Wedgetail early warning aircraft, escorted by two Polish Air Force M-346 Bielik training aircraft. This is the first time an Australian aircraft has participated in a military parade in Poland.
Two German Eurofighters escorted by a Polish F-16C. The German aircraft are on an Air Policing mission at the Mińsk Mazowiecki Air Base in the Mazovian Voivodeship.
Three Polish KAI FA-50GF Golden Eagle light fighters, a model manufactured in South Korea. Poland already has 12 FA-50GFs in operation and expects to receive 36 FA-50PLs between November 2025 and September 2028.
Six Polish F-16s. Poland has 48 F-16 Block 52+ (36 single-seat F-16Cs and 12 two-seat F-16Ds), which will soon be upgraded to the Block 72 Viper version.
Six Leonardo M-346 Master training aircraft. They are known as Bielik (Bald Eagle) in Poland. The Polish Air Force received 16 units, but lost one in an accident in July 2024.
Two Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters escorted by a Polish F-16C. These Swedish fighters were deployed to Poland on a NATO Air Policing mission in April 2025.
Two French Rafale fighters escorted by a Polish F-16C.
An image of the naval parade on the Hel Peninsula. In the image we see the two Polish Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ORP Generał Kazimierz Pułaski 272 and the ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko 273.
The Polish Land Force’s new M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams tanks. This is the first time they have participated in a parade. Poland has received 116 M1A1s from the US and expects a total of 250 M1A2 SEP v3s.
Leopard 2PL tanks, the modernized Polish version of the Leopard 2A4.
K2 Black Panther tanks, manufactured by South Korea. The Polish Army is the only European operator. Poland plans to receive 1,000 units of this excellent model.
K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, manufactured in South Korea. Poland is in the process of receiving 218 K9A1s and will subsequently receive 606 K9PLs.
AHS Krab self-propelled howitzers. This is a Polish version of the K9 Thunder with a BAE Systems AS-90M Braveheart turret. The Polish Army expects to receive a total of 170 units.
An M-142 HIMARS missile launcher. Poland expects to receive 506 units.
A WB Groups Gladius vehicle for launching BSP-U reconnaissance and attack drones. These vehicles are based on the Polish PGZ Waran 4×4.
—
Photos: Święto Wojska Polskiego / Święto Wojska Polskiego – parada morska / Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej.