U.S. Army repositions tanks and combat vehicles to Poland to reinforce the eastern flank.

U.S. Army units moved M1A2 Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and other armored assets by rail to the Bemowo Piskie Training Area in eastern Poland during Exercise Amber Desire 25. The deployment supports NATO’s shift from a battalion-sized force to a full brigade presence along the alliance’s eastern flank.

U.S. defense officials said this week that American armored units have begun repositioning M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley heavy combat vehicles into northeastern Poland, framing the move as a planned step in NATO’s broader deterrence posture. Rail convoys carrying Abrams tanks and Bradleys reached the Bemowo Piskie Training Area as part of the Forward Land Forces expansion, a transition that senior officers described as the most significant force increase at the site since it was established nearly a decade ago.
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U.S. Army Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division gather ground-level intelligence from scout teams after completing a convoy movement of M1A2 Abrams tanks from their designated start point during the Forward Land Forces expansion exercise at Bemowo Piskie, Poland. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The Forward Land Forces (FLF) is NATO’s next-generation enhancement of the alliance’s forward defense posture, replacing earlier Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battlegroups with larger, more lethal, and more rapidly deployable brigade-sized formations. The FLF is designed to ensure that NATO can immediately defend key terrain on the eastern flank without waiting for follow-on forces from Western Europe or the United States. Under this concept, nations pre-position troops, armor, logistics, and command elements, enabling them to scale up rapidly during a crisis. The U.S. Army’s deployment to BPTA directly supports this shift by providing the heavy-combat units needed to anchor the brigade.

More than 500 U.S. Soldiers and nearly 300 armored vehicles from the 1st Infantry Division maneuvered across Poland for the exercise, held from November 10 to 22. Participating units included the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment; 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment; and the 1st Engineer Battalion, all from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Their arrival represents one of the largest concentrations of U.S. armored power in northeastern Poland since NATO’s enhanced forward posture began in 2017.

The U.S. deployment is driven by several strategic priorities. First, it demonstrates the Army’s ability to rapidly reinforce NATO’s most exposed region in the event of a major crisis. Second, it validates Poland’s ability to serve as a mobility hub for heavy armor, ensuring the alliance can deploy forces to the Baltic Sea region and the Suwałki corridor. Third, it positions U.S. mechanized units forward, providing NATO with immediate combat power to counter high-intensity threats.

Amber Desire 25 begins with a simulated large-scale crisis designed to test the alliance’s ability to surge combat power, expand command-and-control structures, and integrate additional mechanized units under compressed timelines. The scenario reinforces why the FLF model requires brigade-sized formations rather than battalion-level contingents.

Rail mobility remains central to these operations. Moving tanks and Bradleys across multiple Polish bases required close coordination with national rail authorities, host-nation support teams, movement control elements, and unit leaders. The successful movement of armored assets demonstrated the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly reinforce key terrain, a core requirement for any contingency in the Baltic region.

The FLF expansion supports NATO’s broader regional defense plans, particularly the need to position higher-readiness units capable of concentrating forces near the Suwałki corridor and the Baltic Sea basin. Multinational Division North East, headquartered in Elbląg, Poland, provides the command framework that links allied battlegroups across the eastern flank.

Col. Matthew Kelley, commander of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, emphasized that the brigade deployed two battalions and its headquarters to integrate directly with the NATO battlegroup at BPTA. He highlighted the dual value of American contributions, noting that the United States provides not only armored firepower but also leadership within the alliance.

Kelley also underscored the human dimension of interoperability, stressing that strong relationships built on the ground with partner nations are essential for future operations. He described this interaction as one of the most successful aspects of the exercise.

Col. Michael Filanowski, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Multinational Division North East, said the FLF expansion is a core part of NATO’s plan to reinforce Poland’s eastern border and elevate the battlegroup to brigade strength. He emphasized that the shift enhances NATO’s readiness and deterrent posture.

Strategically, the movement demonstrates the Pentagon’s capacity to mass heavy forces in Eastern Europe and reaffirms U.S. commitment to collective defense. Strengthening the armored presence at BPTA enhances deterrence, supports NATO’s mobility corridors, and validates the infrastructure needed to reinforce the Baltic region.

Exercises like Amber Desire 25 allow U.S. and NATO forces to test large-scale mobility, align warfighting concepts, and hone interoperability, ensuring the alliance can rapidly concentrate armored forces when needed.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.