Independent strategic analysis; raises the cruise-missile gap as strategic risk

March 2026 analysis confirmed that Poland's Armaments Agency formally decided against acquiring vertical launch tubes for cruise missiles in the A26 contract. IISS frames this as a meaningful gap in Poland's deep-strike posture as the A26's primary value will be anti-submarine warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance rather than land attack.

“Questions remain for Poland's deep-strike ambitions after the decision to forgo cruise missiles.”