The US Army has received the first batch of armored vehicles at its newest military storehouse in west-central Poland.
Opened in April 2023, the Powidz Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 (APS-2) was established to keep, sustain, and distribute allied armored brigades for their respective forces deployed on NATO’s eastern flank.
The facility’s placement reduces logistics timelines for training, operations, and response in the event of a conflict in the region.
The Powidz APS-2 facility accepted 14 M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, an M88 recovery vehicle, and associated equipment to prepare the center for full operational capability in 2025.
The hub is expected to accommodate hundreds of M1A2s, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzers, and other ground-based systems in the coming months.
Once activated, the worksite will be assigned to the US Army Europe and Africa’s 405th Army Field Support Brigade stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and will operate alongside five other APS-2 facilities across the region.
“APS-2 is about deterrence and ensuring that we can rapidly deploy our forces on a moment’s notice,” 405 Army Field Support Brigade Commander Col. Ernest Lane II remarked.
“This facility has a huge impact on NATO. The strategic location allows us to have multiple avenues of approach and routes of departure and embarkation. It is an example of strategic positioning in the right place, at the right time.”
Enhancing US-NATO Cooperation
Designed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Powidz APS-2 is the largest infrastructure funded by NATO and the Pentagon in three decades.
It encompasses approximately 650,000 square feet (60,386 square meters) and has dedicated spaces for maintenance, stockpile, and supporting structures.
The humidity-controlled site has a 58,000-square-feet (5,388-square-meter) area for munitions.
The service estimated that the complex would cut deployment timelines by 88 percent, decreasing the usual 60-day deployments down to a single week.
“The construction of the Powidz APS-2 Worksite…bolsters defense capabilities and strengthens deterrence efforts while also demonstrating the US continued commitment to its European allies and partners,” the US Army wrote.
“The facility will also play a crucial role in sustaining large-scale exercises … which help maintain high levels of readiness within various militaries across Europe.”
“Ultimately, the Powidz APS-2 Work Site solidifies the partnerships between the US and NATO, highlighting the commitment to collective defense and ensuring security across Europe.”
The army said during the center’s launch last year that it would house about 2,700 tanks and other ground platforms, while the latest announcement said it would be able to host more than 5,000 “major end” systems.
