The deal was announced by Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak on Tuesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The defence minister said on the social messaging app X, formerly Twitter: “Today the Armaments Agency has signed a contract for the delivery of Swedish early-warning Saab 340 AEW aircraft.”
Błaszczak added: "Thanks to this, NATO's eastern flank will be strengthened and Polish airspace will become safer.“
Under Tuesday’s deal, Poland will receive two Saab 340 airborne early-warning (AEW) planes equipped with advanced Erieye radar, at a combined cost of USD 576 million, according to the Air Force Technology website.
The aircraft are manufactured by Sweden’s defence and security company Saab, the PAP news agency reported.
In May, during a meeting with his Swedish counterpart Pål Jonson and fellow northern European defence chiefs in Legionowo near Warsaw, Błaszczak told reporters that Poland’s cooperation with Sweden was important for ensuring security in the Baltic Sea.
Poland’s defence minister stated at the time: “We are neighbours across the Baltic Sea, we have a similar perception of threats coming from the Russian side and we are looking for collective measures to ensure security.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Tuesday is day 517 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, Reuters, Air Force Technology