Poland’s defense ministry dismissed claims that the US administration was pressing Warsaw to move one of its two Patriot missile batteries to the Middle East, after the Rzeczpospolita daily reported Washington had raised the idea in unofficial talks.
The newspaper said US officials had also sounded out whether Poland could eventually hand over PAC-3 MSE missiles already delivered with the Patriot system.
Polish defense ministry spokesman Janusz Sejmej denied the report, saying the United States was not putting any pressure on Poland over transferring weapons.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland’s Patriot batteries would remain in the country.
“Our Patriot batteries and their armament serve to protect Polish skies and NATO’s eastern flank; nothing is changing in this matter and we are not planning to move them anywhere,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
“Our allies know and understand very well how important our tasks are here. Poland’s security is an absolute priority,” he added.
According to Rzeczpospolita, if the United States does not increase production capacity for PAC-3 MSE missiles, replenishing stocks depleted during the war with Iran could take about two years. Reaching an output of 2,000 missiles a year could take seven years, the paper said.
That could delay deliveries of US-purchased weapons for Poland, which are scheduled to begin in 2027, the report said. The deliveries include six Patriot batteries and 600 PAC-3 missiles.
Patriot systems are a central part of Poland’s developing air defense network under the Wisła program, which covers its longest-range systems.
Poland is buying eight Patriot batteries, or 64 launchers, equipped with the IBCS system, LTDAMS radars and PAC-3 MSE missiles.
The first two Patriot batteries delivered to Poland were assigned to the 3rd Air Defense Missile Brigade in Sochaczew, and were declared fully operational in December. Another 48 launchers, or six batteries, are due to be delivered between 2027 and 2029.
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Source: PAP, Polish Radio