Modernization of defense systems in Poland and creation of its own missile defence shield 1608124.

“The armed forces need further modernization, and primarily [we need] to build our own air defence system, which will enhance the NATO system,” Bronislaw Komorowski said during a ceremony which took place at midday at Pilsudski Square, by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the centre of Warsaw.

Though US President Barack Obama said on taking office four years ago that Poland would be included in a new mobile missile defence system, with hardware in place by 2018, the Polish government announced last month that it is to build its own independent anti-ballistic missile system with the help of European allies such as Germany and France.

Komorowski added that following the professionalization of the armed forces and the end of conscription, a shortage of troops had been noted and must be reversed.

In early August, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said that Warsaw needed its own missile defence shield that would be a part of the NATO missile defence system.

The US scrapped plans in September 2010 for an anti-ballistic-missile defence system in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Moscow welcomed the move, and Russia's then president Dmitry Medvedev said later that Russia would drop plans to deploy Iskander-M tactical missiles in its Kaliningrad region, which borders NATO members, Poland and Lithuania.