The US State Department has approved a potential $15 billion missile defense system sale to Poland, including a new radar system currently being developed for the US Army.
Raytheon Corporation (rebranded to RTX), along with Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Fire Control, would serve as the main contractors for the project.
As per the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the proposed sale would consist of the Patriot Configuration-3+, encompassing 48 Patriot launch stations, 644 Lockheed Martin-manufactured Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles, and 12 Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensors (LTAMDS) that are currently being developed by RTX for the US Army.
While the US State Department approval was granted, the notification does not mean a definitive contract has been signed or negotiations concluded.
“The proposed sale will improve Poland’s missile defense capability and contribute to Poland’s military goals of updating capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies,” stated the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
It is worth noting that Poland already has two Patriot Configuration 3+ batteries it received from the US last year. The country has also signed a letter of request for an additional six batteries but an official contract is yet to be announced.
These purchases are part of Poland’s efforts to establish a medium-range air defense capability as part of the Wisla program, under which the country already received the newly-developed Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) from Northrop Grumman. Poland, which expects to field IBCS this year, is on track to operationalize the system ahead of the US Army.
Amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Poland is clambering to buy high-end defense capabilities. Since the beginning of this year, Poland has made significant acquisitions, including 116 M1A1 ABRAMS tanks, $10B worth of HIMARS systems, 1,400 locally-developed Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles, 70,000 Grot carbines, and FA-50 light fighters.
Poland is also working on a potential purchase of early-warning aircraft from Sweden, with the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak stating in May this year that he anticipated the finalization of a contract “in the near future.”
