Poland signs deal for US Patriot missile system
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
06.07.2017 09:31
A deal for the supply of eight US Patriot anti-ballistic missile systems to Poland has been signed in Warsaw, Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz has said.
Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz.
The deal was signed during US President Donald Trump’s first visit to Warsaw since taking office.
It follows on promises made by Macierewicz and US Defense Secretary James Mattis during a recent NATO summit to work on Poland’s anti-missile defence plans.
Macierewicz said the Patriot missile system was Poland’s answer to Russian Iskanders “which threaten Poland”.
Poland’s Deputy Defence Minister Michał Dworczyk said the deal was a “huge step towards boosting the safety of the Polish state”.
He added that the Patriot system was “the most modern solution” and that Poland would buy “exactly the same equipment as the US army has”.
The Patriot system was chosen in 2015 by the previous government.
Last September, nearly a year after taking over the defence ministry when the current governing Law and Justice came to power, Macierewicz sent a letter of request for eight batteries of US Patriot launchers.
Macierewicz earlier said that Poland’s mid-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence system should cost no more than PLN 30 billion (USD 8 billion).
The first batteries are expected to be delivered in 2022.
Together with HOMAR missile launchers, which Poland’s defence ministry on Wednesday announced it would buy from US firm Lockheed Martin, Poland would gain “full security from any enemy using any weapon that could threaten Poland,” Macierewicz said. (vb/pk)
Source: PAP