Poland plans to increase the number of professional military personnel in its armed forces to 300,000 by 2039, with the total force, including reservists, reaching 500,000, according to plans presented by Deputy Defence Minister Stanisław Wziątek.
Speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary National Defence Committee, Wziątek outlined the government's vision for the future development and expansion of the country’s military, Caliber.Az reports via Polish media.
Under the plan, the armed forces would consist of 300,000 active-duty service members and 200,000 reservists by 2039. The target is included in Poland’s Armed Forces Development Program for 2025–2039, a classified document prepared periodically by the Defence Ministry that sets out the country's key military modernisation priorities.
The program was signed in December 2025 by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Some lawmakers expressed concern that the timeline extends too far into the future. However, Wziątek said he believes the expansion process will accelerate and that the 500,000-person target could be achieved earlier than planned.
The deputy minister also noted that the size of the Polish military has increased by more than 11,000 personnel compared with 2024. He added that more than 7,000 service members left the armed forces in 2025, while nearly 19,000 professional soldiers and more than 17,000 volunteers in basic military service were recruited last year.
By Jeyhun Aghazada
