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 Wednesday.
"The proposed sale will improve Poland’s missile defense capability and contribute to Poland’s military goals of updating capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies," the DSCA said in a statement.
It added that "Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces."
Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak tweeted that the purchase would strengthen his country's air defence capabilities.
He said: "The US State Department has approved the sale to Poland of 48 Patriot launchers and more than 600 PAC 3 MSE missiles."
He added: "This is an extremely important strengthening of Poland's air defence system. We are now waiting for approval from the US Congress."
Under US law, the deal has yet to be approved by Congress.
The announcement by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency comes after Błaszczak said in May last year that he had "signed a Letter of Request for the purchase of six more batteries" of the US Patriot anti-ballistic missile defence system for Poland amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Poland in March 2019 signed what officials described as a historic deal to buy Patriot air defence systems from the United States for USD 4.75 billion.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Thursday is day 491 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, dsca.mil