Poland has signed a contract to buy 800 AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles from the US.
The Lockheed Martin missiles will initially be fitted with the Polish Air Force’s AW149 multi-role helicopters and eventually with the AH-64E Apaches, Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced in a tweet.
The US State Department approved the estimated $150 million anti-armor missile sale request in March, which includes four M36 Hellfire captive air training missiles and related equipment.
The air-to-ground missile delivery schedule is not known.
Military Helicopter Arrival Schedule
Meanwhile, Poland bought 32 AW149s last year. The helicopters, manufactured by Leonardo, are scheduled to arrive in Poland between 2023 and 2029.
Warsaw was loaned eight Boeing AH-64Es by the US, which are expected to start arriving in Poland in 2024.
The Eastern European country has also sent a letter of request to the US for the purchase of 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters.
The attack helicopters could first be deployed to the military’s 18th Mechanized Division, which is considered a bulwark against a potential Russian invasion, according to Defense News.
Dziś podpisaliśmy umowę na dostawę pocisków rakietowych Hellfire. Będą stanowiły uzbrojenie dla śmigłowców wsparcia AW149 i docelowo uderzeniowych AH-64E Apache Guardian. pic.twitter.com/bIGCdMCm9F
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) May 30, 2023
