Mateusz Morawiecki made the announcement at a US Army depot in Anniston, Alabama, on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The facility hosts the production of state-of-the art Abrams tanks, according to officials.
The Polish prime minister, who is on a three-day visit to America, told reporters: “In current times, security is also measured by the quality and availability of military equipment.”
Morawiecki said he had received confirmation from US officials that “Poland will receive 14 Abrams tanks by June at the latest … to replace old, post-Soviet equipment that we have transferred to Ukraine.”
He added that it would be merely “a prelude” as Poland had ordered a total of 116 modernised M1A1 Abrams tanks and 250 state-of-the-art M1A2 Abrams to bolster its defences amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Morawiecki stated that the Abrams tanks would form “an armoured curtain that will protect the east of Poland.”
Poland aims to establish Abrams tank maintenance hub for Europe: PM
He also said, as quoted by the Reuters news agency: "I want a service centre for Abrams tanks for the whole of Europe, for maintaining their battle readiness, to be located in Poland. This is possible, I am in talks regarding this."
Poland seeks to produce ammunition for Abrams tanks: PM
Morawiecki told reporters that Poland was interested in manufacturing depleted-uranium ammunition-cores for Abrams battle tanks, as it seeks to boost its defence capabilities amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He said: "We are also pushing for the production of depleted-uranium ammunition cores for the Abrams to be located in Poland."
Morawiecki added that "for Ukraine’s frontline troops, the biggest concern is currently a shortage of ammunition.”
“And that’s why our National Ammunition Programme is very important," he stated.
Morawiecki also said that Poland was "safe thanks to the power of the NATO alliance."
He told reporters: “The strength of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is immense. It is the strongest alliance in the world which keeps us safe.”
Wednesday was day 413 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, Reuters, dziennik.pl
Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Piotr Miszczuk.