US‑Poland Deployable Air Base System Opens at Powidz, Boosting NATO Eastern Flank

A new Deployable Air Base System (DABS) storage complex was inaugurated at Powidz Air Base in western Poland. The facility, the second‑largest U.S. War Reserve Materiel site in Europe, was built under the Poland Provided Infrastructure (PPI) program and cost more than 650 million zł, roughly five percent of Poland’s GDP.

The DABS complex can hold four complete kits, supporting over 2,200 personnel and up to 500 vehicles. It stores fuel systems, shelters, vehicles and other equipment needed to establish a functional air base within hours, enhancing rapid deployment capabilities for the U.S. Air Force and NATO allies on the alliance’s eastern flank. The site is currently operated jointly by U.S. and Polish personnel and will transition to full Polish leadership in the future.

Polish Chief of the Armed Forces Support Inspectorate Maj. Gen. Dariusz Mendrala and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Chad Ellsworth highlighted the project as a tangible symbol of the strategic partnership between the two nations and a cornerstone of NATO’s security posture.