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Poland building multi-layer air defence system: deputy PM

20.04.2023 21:00
A Polish deputy prime minister has said that his country has made much progress in building a multi-layer air defence system, featuring US-made Patriot missiles and other components, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Polands Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak meets reporters at the Warsaw-Radom airport in central Poland, on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak meets reporters at the Warsaw-Radom airport in central Poland, on Thursday, April 20, 2023.PAP/Paweł Supernak

Mariusz Błaszczak made the remark at Warsaw-Radom Airport in central Poland on Thursday, state news agency PAP reported.  

Błaszczak watched troops practice anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence using the Wisła, Mała Narew and Pilica systems as well as anti-drone technology, officials said. 

Afterwards Błaszczak, who is also Poland’s defence minister, told reporters that the country was “well on the way” towards creating “a multi-layer anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence system” to "deter potential aggressors."

Poland strengthens air defences

Błaszczak said that Thursday’s exercise in Radom involved US-made Patriot missile launchers as part of the Wisła medium-range system, in addition to iLaunchers with the UK-made Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) weaponry as part of the Mała Narew short-range system and the Pilica very short-range system. 

He added: “We are also awaiting the completion of the Pilica+ system, which will be ready soon. It’s an artillery and rocket system, combining a cannon with the Piorun man-portable air-defence missiles, and soon the CAMM missiles, as well.” 

Błaszczak announced: “We also have the Piorun man-portable air-defence systems and we are integrating anti-drone technology.”

‘Making Poland safe’ 

He told reporters that Poland was “learning the lessons from the war in Ukraine” to create “a multi-layer, truly integrated” air defence system. 

He also said that the Polish Army was “retiring Soviet-era equipment” to embrace “the best solutions, including from the US and Britain.”

“This policy is making Poland safe,” Błaszczak declared.

Thursday is day 421 of Russia’s war on Ukraine. 

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, wojsko-polskie.pl