Poland signs $2.5bn deal with US for air defence system
Poland has signed a $2.5 billion (10 billion zloty) deal with the United States for an advanced air defence system. Once implemented, Poland will be the first country other than the US itself to use the system.
The Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) – which will be delivered between 2024 and 2031 – will be part of Poland’s medium-range Narew and short-range Wisła air defence programmes.
Wojsko Polskie otrzyma najnowocześniejszy system dowodzenia obroną przeciwlotniczą i przeciwrakietową
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Wicepremier W. @KosiniakKamysz: Wielki dzień dla Polski, wielki dzień dla Stanów Zjednoczonych, wielki dzień dla NATO, wielki dzień dla naszego bezpieczeństwa. Tu i teraz… pic.twitter.com/k47AcyvsIX
— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej 🇵🇱 (@MON_GOV_PL) February 29, 2024
“The Polish army is getting something that is the most important thing, which is the brain of the whole system,” said defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a press conference alongside US ambassador Mark Brzezinski. “Poland’s sky will be safe.”
“The Wisła and Narew programmes will be the most modern in the world thanks to this system. We will be the second country after the United States with this…integrated and state-of-the-art command system,” noted Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“We have seen with our own eyes in Ukraine how crucial air and missile defence is, and this order will provide Poland with the best, most modern and effective tools to defend NATO territory,” added Brzezinski. “Poland’s commitment to defence modernisation is commendable and increases our common security.”
Widzieliśmy na własne oczy w Ukrainie, jak kluczowa jest obrona powietrzna i przeciwrakietowa, a to zamówienie zapewni Polsce najlepsze, najnowocześniejsze i skuteczne narzędzia do obrony terytorium NATO. Zaangażowanie Polski w modernizację obronności jest godne pochwały i… https://t.co/lHIMZHJU10
— Ambasador Mark Brzezinski (@USAmbPoland) February 29, 2024
The agreement signed on Thursday covers both the procurement of the necessary command and communications equipment for the IBCS as well as logistical and technical support and a stock of spare parts.
The deal marks the latest element of an unprecedented military spending spree Poland has embarked upon since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The former Law and Justice (PiS) government raised the defence budget to 4% of GDP – the highest relative level in NATO – and the new government, led by Donald Tusk, that took office in December has pledged to continue modernising and strengthening the armed forces.
Last November, Poland agreed a £4 billion air defence deal with the UK. Earlier in February this year, the US State Department approved the $1.2 billion sale of radar reconnaissance airships to Poland
Poland has agreed a £4bn (20bn zloty) air defence deal with the UK – the largest ever commercial agreement between the two countries.
It will see Poland purchase over 1,000 CAMM-ER missiles and more than 100 launchers for its Narew system https://t.co/hnx6CaVgLG
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) November 8, 2023
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Main image credit: MON/X
Agata Pyka is an assistant editor at Notes from Poland. She is a journalist and a political communication student at the University of Amsterdam. She specialises in Polish and European politics as well as investigative journalism and has previously written for Euractiv and The European Correspondent.
