Poland signed a $4.75 billion (€3.8 billion) contract to purchase the U.S.-made Patriot anti-missile system after several years of negotiations.
“We are signing today a contract to deliver a modern system that has proven itself in numerous countries and thanks to which we are joining an elite group of states which have an efficient weapon that guarantees security,” said Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak.
The first deliveries are expected in 2022.
The U.S. State Department approved the sale of the Patriot missile defense system to Poland in November with a price tag of $10.5 billion for four radar sets, 16 launching stations, 208 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) and additional related equipment and training. Shortly after taking office as defense minister, Blaszczak said in January that that Poland had obtained a lower price and accelerated delivery time.
Polish President Andrzej Duda’s office said the value of the deal signed on Wednesday is $4.75 billion.
The Patriot is a mobile air-defence system made by U.S. defense firm Raytheon and designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, low-flying cruise missiles and aircraft.
Poland’s Wisla program
The Letter of Offer and Acceptance signed by Poland and Raytheon is for phase one of Poland’s ‘Wisla’ program, the two-phase medium-range integrated air and missile defense procurement initiative, Raytheon said in a Wednesday, March 28 press release announcing the deal.
In phase two, Poland will acquire additional Patriot fire units, the Gallium-Nitride-based 360-degree Active Electronically Scanning Array Radar and a low-cost interceptor missile called SkyCeptor, Raytheon said.
Raytheon will transfer technology to Poland to the extent permitted by U.S. law, the company said in a Wednesday, March 28 press release announcing the deal. The transfer is to facilitate Poland’s self-sufficiency as required by Polish law.
Other companies involved in Wisla are Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
Lockheed separately announced on Wednesday that it had formalized an agreement for Poland to purchase Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and related support equipment.
“We’re honored to partner with Poland in support of the WISŁA Air and Missile Defense system to protect and defend their armed forces, citizens and infrastructure. We also look forward to working with the Polish Armaments Group consortium of companies in support of the agreed to WISŁA technology transfer,” said Tim Cahill, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
With reporting from AFP
Editor’s note: This story was updated on March 28 at 1233 GMT with more detail about the Wisla program and related agreement with Lockheed Martin.