Dual-use infrastructure refers to civilian facilities that can be used for military purposes in the event of a conflict. These include airports, roads, bridges, ports and hydraulic structures, which serve the economy and society in peacetime and become elements of national defence in the event of a threat.
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Poland, located on NATO’s eastern flank, must plan solutions to increase infrastructure capacity. In our country, there are many facilities of strategic importance for the security of the state that can have a dual function.
Requirements for dual-use infrastructure
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1328 of 10 August 2021 specifies the technical and operational requirements for so-called dual-use infrastructure referred to in Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 (the so-called Connecting Europe Facility – CEF). This act establishes detailed rules that EU-funded infrastructure projects must meet in order to contribute to both civil and defence (military) objectives.
The regulation introduces specific standards that the infrastructure must meet in order to be considered dual-use. For example:
- Load capacity and dimensions – of roads, tracks or bridges, which must be adapted to the transport of heavy military equipment, while maintaining the parameters required for the civilian transport of goods and passengers,
- Safety issues – appropriate installations and systems enabling the safe use of infrastructure both in everyday operations and in crisis situations or during military operations.
- Connectivity and interoperability – ensuring compatibility with ICT, signalling and command systems so that the infrastructure can be used by various entities (civilian and military).
The Central Communication Port as a strategic infrastructure element
The Central Communication Port is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Poland. It is intended to connect air, rail and road transport, becoming a logistics hub for Central and Eastern Europe. It is an investment that can play a key role both in times of peace and in the event of a military threat.
The STH airport will have runways suitable for the largest transport aircraft. In the event of a conflict, it can become a transit point for the redeployment of troops and equipment for NATO forces.
A modern rail hub is planned in connection with the airport. In the event of a crisis, it will enable the rapid movement of troops and military equipment. Highways and expressways in the immediate vicinity of the STC complete the possibilities of logistical use of the STC for military purposes. There have been opinions that the STC could be bombed, so it is not worth building it – it is difficult to argue with this type of argument, because following this line of reasoning, it is not worth building anything…
illustration source: cpk.pl
It is obvious that the strategic importance of the STH requires adequate security. Modern air defence systems, shelters and infrastructure enabling rapid takeover by the military should be an integral part of the project.
Sharing of civil airports by the military
The threat posed by Russian aviation and cruise missiles forces Poland to ensure flexible relocation of its air force. The current military infrastructure (15 airports), although constantly modernized, is not able to meet all the requirements in a conflict situation. Sharing civilian airports will significantly increase the maneuverability of the military, enabling the rapid movement of aircraft and avoiding surprise attacks by the enemy. The Senate Committee on National Defence dealt with this issue as early as July 2024. At the end of February 2025, the topic is back on the agenda.
Water engineering structures as part of national defence
Reservoirs, dams and other water engineering structures can be important elements of a defence strategy. In peacetime, they serve the economy, energy production and environmental protection. In a war situation, they can slow down the movement of enemy troops, secure logistics and ensure access to water resources.
Adapting hydraulic structures for military purposes requires a new approach. One of the most important issues is to protect the facilities from sabotage and cyber attacks. Modern conflicts show that water infrastructure can be one of the first targets of attack.
Dual-use infrastructure as military support
Poland has an extensive network of motorways and expressways that can be used for military transport. Some sections of motorways and expressways can serve as road sections of airports.
Railways have always played an important role in military logistics. Poland should significantly accelerate the modernization of its railway infrastructure, as the neglect in this respect is dramatic.
According to information from the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy from January 2024, in the third call for the CEF Military Mobility competition, Poland received funding of over 129 million euros for four projects.
A modern approach to the planning and design of linear infrastructure.
The transport network must be prepared for war scenarios. Airports, roads, bridges and railways should enable the rapid movement of troops and equipment. Adapting facilities for military use does not have to mean giving up their civilian character. On the contrary, a modern approach to infrastructure planning and design enables the optimal use of resources in both peacetime and war.
HydroBIM, an innovative design office, combines advanced hydraulic and hydrodynamic modelling with BIM and GIS technologies in the design of hydraulic engineering solutions, which is particularly important in the context of dual-use infrastructure design.