The planned deal aims to “support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Tuesday.
“The proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations," the DSCA said in a statement.
It added that "Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces."
The principal contractors will be "AAR, Wood Dale, IL; Allison Transmissions, Birmingham, AL; Anniston Army Depot, Anniston, AL; BAE Systems, Sterling Heights, MI; General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), Sterling Heights, MI; Honeywell, Phoenix, AZ; L3Harris, Melbourne, FL; Leonardo DRS, West Plains, MO; Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, MD; Palomar, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; Pearson Engineering, Phoenix, AZ; and US Ordnance, McCarran, NV," the agency also said.
Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak tweeted that the purchase would boost Poland's security.
He said: "We have taken another step to increase the potential of the Polish armed forces. The US Department of State has approved the sale to Poland of an additional 116 Abrams tanks with ammunition. We are proceeding to price negotiations. The first deliveries are possible in 2023. A strong army means a safe Poland."
Under US law, the deal has yet to be approved by Congress.
The announcement by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency came after Poland’s Błaszczak announced in July that his country had reached an agreement with the United States to buy 116 used M1A2 Abrams tanks to replace equipment provided to war-torn Ukraine.
He told the media at the time that the deal would enable Poland to restock its tank arsenal after the country sent more than 240 modified T-72 machines to help Ukraine battle Russia's invasion.
Poland in April signed a USD 4.74 billion deal to buy 250 new Abrams tanks from the United States in what officials hailed as a key step in boosting the country’s defences amid Russia's war against Ukraine.
F-35, HIMARS, Patriot
Poland’s government in January 2020 signed a USD 4.6 billion deal to buy 32 state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets from the United States in what officials hailed as a new era for the Polish air force and a key step in boosting the country’s defences.
In February 2019, Poland signed a deal to buy 20 HIMARS artillery rocket systems from America for USD 414 million as part of a military modernisation drive.
Poland in March 2018 signed what officials described as a historic deal to buy an American Patriot air defence system for USD 4.75 billion.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, dsca.mil