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Poland signs deal to boost air defence

14.04.2022 20:00
The Polish government has signed an agreement to buy two missile firing units for the country’s air defence system amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Polands Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak signs the deal for the new weaponry at a televised ceremony in Warsaw on Thursday, April 14, 2022.
Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak signs the deal for the new weaponry at a televised ceremony in Warsaw on Thursday, April 14, 2022.Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

The deal was signed by Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak at a televised ceremony in Warsaw on Thursday, the state PAP news agency reported.

Under the agreement, the first of the two missile firing units will be delivered in September, and the other around the end of the year, according to officials. 

Guarding Polish skies

After signing the deal, Błaszczak told reporters: “We are drawing conclusions from events east of our border and building a multi-tiered system to guard Polish skies.”

He added that "Ukraine is putting up a brave defence against the Russian invasion because it is well prepared.”

He told the news conference: “We see the importance of air defence, anti-aircraft defence in the entire defence effort."

He added that the delivery of the missile firing units would be “record-fast in view of the war in Ukraine" and "thanks to smooth cooperation" with a consortium of domestic and foreign contractors.

Błaszczak also said that Thursday was “an important day when it comes to the weaponry for the Polish army.”

Narew: short-range air defence system

The two missile firing units will be part of Poland’s new short-range air-defence system, Narew, officials told reporters. 

Each unit comprises three missile launchers with a supply of CAMM missiles, produced by the European arms maker MBDA; a radar; and transport-and-loading vehicles, the PAP news agency reported. 

Named after the Polish river, the Narew programme was launched in a high-profile ceremony last year and is designed to fit into Poland's overall air defence shield, between the mid-range Patriot missiles and the very short-range Poprad launchers.  

Thursday was day 50 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAPgov.pl