A History of Polish Anti-Missile Defenses

Modern Polish defensive efforts against offensive missiles began during World War II and have continued to the present. Both human and tactical factors impacted Polish anti-missile performance during world War II, during the post-war period 1945-1991, and during the most recent years 1992-1993. Human factors include morale and command relationships tactical factors include equipment, techniques, and strategies. Polands loss of independence affected wartime human factors. Polish aviators successfully utilized several anti- missile tactics during World War II other Poles participated extensively in wartime anti-missile operations, too. Integration into the Soviet air defense system affected the operators of Polish anti-missile defenses in the post-war era. Soviet-designed tactical elements in Polands post-war anti-missile defenses were potentially effective yet limited. Poles used anti-aircraft artillery, surface-to-air missiles, aircraft, radarradio-electronic combat, naval assets, and other military and non-military means during the post-war years to counter the offensive missile threat.