The move was announced by the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Tuesday night, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
USD 10 billion in weapons, including nearly 500 HIMARS systems
The DSCA said in a statement: “The Republic of Poland has requested to buy eighteen (18) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers; four hundred sixty-eight (468) HIMARS Launcher Loader Module kits; forty-five (45) M57 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS); four hundred sixty-one (461) M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Alternative Warhead (GMLRS-AW) pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS); five hundred twenty-one (521) M31A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Unitary (GMLRS-U) pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS); and five hundred thirty-two (532) XM403 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Extended Range Alternative Warhead (GMLRS-ER AW) pods.”
The Pentagon added: “Also included are Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rockets; support equipment; communications equipment; spare and repair parts; test sets; batteries; laptop computers; publications and technical data; facility design; personnel training and equipment; systems integration support; Quality Assurance Teams and a Technical Assistance Fielding Team; United States Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services; training; sensors; and other related elements of logistics and program support.”
“The total estimated cost is $10 billion,” the DSCA said.
US officials added: “The proposed sale will improve Poland’s military goals of updating capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies.”
US lawmakers had already been notified about the US government’s intention to sell HIMARS launchers to Poland, a source in the Congress told the PAP news agency.
The US Senate's approval is necessary for the sale to move forward, acording to officials.
HIMARS for Poland
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.
These 20 HIMARS launchers are due to be delivered starting this year, together with ammunition as well as logistics, training and technical support, according to officials.
Last year, Poland’s Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced he had made an inquiry about the possible purchase of 500 HIMARS launchers.
However, such a request turned out to be beyond the capacity of the weapon’s producer, the US arms maker Lockheed Martin, the PAP news agency reported.
Poland ordered 288 K239 Chunmoo self-propelled multiple rocket launchers from South Korea instead, reporters were told.
Poland has been strengthening its defences since Russia invaded its neighbour Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Wednesday is day 350 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, breakingdefense.com
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.