Poland launches major military drills near Suwałki Corridor

Poland commenced Iron Gates, a large-scale military exercise at the Orzysz training ground, situated roughly 100 kilometres from the strategically critical Suwałki Corridor.

The exercises are being overseen by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, alongside General Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Caliber.Az reports, citing Polish media.

The drills aim to enhance operational synergy between armored, mechanized, artillery, and air units, underlining Poland’s readiness in the face of evolving security challenges in the region.

The military display includes some of the most advanced equipment in Poland’s arsenal: Abrams main battle tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, WR-40 Langusta multiple rocket launchers, Rak self-propelled mortars, Rosomak armored vehicles equipped with the ZSSW-30 turret.

Air superiority and support are provided by F-35 and F-16 multirole fighter jets, along with AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, underscoring Poland's growing air combat capabilities.

The Orzysz region currently hosts a NATO battalion battle group, comprised of military personnel from the United States, the United Kingdom, Romania, and Croatia. Their participation in the exercises reflects the alliance's commitment to collective defence and interoperability on NATO’s eastern flank.

Iron Gates forms a critical component of Iron Defender 2025, the largest military maneuver scheduled in Poland this year. The broader exercise encompasses land, air, and naval operations, engaging around 30,000 troops and over 600 pieces of military hardware from Poland and allied NATO forces.

Special forces, naval units, the territorial defence forces, and cyber defence elements are also involved, marking an unprecedented level of cross-branch coordination.

Concurrently, Polish troops are participating in joint exercises across Lithuania, Latvia, and Sweden’s Gotland Island, signaling deepening regional defense cooperation in the face of increased geopolitical tensions in the Baltic region.

On the eve of the Orzysz drills, a similar demonstration took place in Ustka, where the Patriot missile defence system was showcased in Poland for the first time. The military maneuvers are set to continue on September 18 at the Nowa Dęba training ground, further highlighting the sustained tempo of defence readiness exercises across the country.

By Vafa Guliyeva