Poland is continuing a large-scale build-up of its armed forces. Under the long-term Programme for the Development of the Polish Armed Forces 2025–2039, approved in late 2025, the total size of the army is to reach 500,000 personnel by 2039.
Of these:
300,000 will be active-duty professional service members (including territorial defence soldiers and voluntary conscripts);
200,000 will be reservists, among whom a new high-readiness reserve is being created (maintained at high combat readiness for rapid deployment in the event of a crisis).
Poland’s armed forces currently number approximately 200,000–215,000 active personnel, already making them one of the largest in NATO in Europe. The new plan envisions not only quantitative growth but also a qualitative transformation: an emphasis on multi-domain operations (land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace), the development of deep-strike capabilities, and the use of drones, artificial intelligence, and modern weapons systems.
Analysts note that Poland is moving away from the post-Cold War European model of a “small professional army” and is building large forces capable of sustained high-intensity combat operations. The plan also includes mass training of reservists and civilians to strengthen the country’s overall defence capacity.
Implementation has already begun: new divisions are being formed, modern equipment is being procured, and infrastructure is being developed. A significant interim increase in active troop numbers is planned by 2030.
This step positions Poland as a key element of NATO’s eastern flank and one of the most militarised states in Europe relative to its population (Poland has approximately 38 million inhabitants).