Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak told reporters on Monday that the delivery was destined for Poland's 16th Mechanised Division, which is stationed mainly in the country's northeastern Warmińsko-Mazurskie region near the border with Russia.
The aim is "to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and deter an aggressor," Błaszczak said at a news conference at Warsaw's Okęcie Airport.
He made the announcement alongside US Deputy Secretary of State Richard R. Verma, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Poland, US in talks on details of new HIMARS deal
Błaszczak, who is also a deputy prime minister, said Warsaw was in talks with Washington on the details of another contract for the HIMARS high mobility artillery rocket system.
He noted that in February the US Congress cleared the sale of nearly 500 HIMARS artillery rocket systems to Poland.
The Polish defence minister declared: “These launchers will be brought to Poland as soon as possible.”
Błaszczak added that the Polish government sought to ensure that the production of the launchers and rockets would in part be relocated to Poland under this new contract.
The defence minister said he was “optimistic” about the new contract, following “very good talks” earlier this month with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and a meeting with executives at Lockheed Martin, the maker of the HIMARS systems.
Błaszczak said he hoped the new contract for HIMARS launchers would be finalised “as soon as possible.”
HIMARS Academy
Błaszczak also told reporters that Poland would soon establish a major training and service centre for HIMARS artillery, dubbed “the HIMARS Academy,” in the northern city of Toruń.
The defence minister said the new facility would be “a major training and service hub” for countries “that have HIMARS launchers or will have them in the future.”
Błaszczak declared: “In a relatively short period of time we will have significant firepower and will strengthen Polish artillery.”
“From what is happening in Ukraine, it’s clear that artillery plays a key role … and that’s why we are seeking to enhance Poland’s artillery potential,” he added.
Last year, Warsaw signalled its intention to buy 500 more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the United States, to add to a previous order for 20 such long-range launchers.
In February 2019, Poland's government signed a deal to buy 20 HIMARS artillery rocket systems from America for USD 414 million as part of a military modernisation drive.
The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System "is a full-spectrum, combat-proven, all-weather, 24/7, lethal and responsive, wheeled precision strike weapons system," according to the US Army.
It can fire GMLRS rockets at a range of over 70 kilometres and ATACMS missiles at a range of up to 300 kilometres, according to officials.
Monday is day 446 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, Polsat News, asc.army.mil