Poland buys hundreds of US air-to-air missiles
by AFP Staff Writers
Warsaw (AFP) Aug 9, 2024

Poland has signed a deal with the United States to buy hundreds of air-to-air missiles, the national armament agency said Friday, the latest upgrade to its military capabilities.

The AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles will be delivered between 2029 and 2033 for the air force's fighter jets, the agency said on X, formerly Twitter.

The eastern European country has accelerated the modernisation of its armed forces in the wake of Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. This contract is worth $855 million.

Poland's air force already boasts the advanced US F-16 fighter and will dedicate more than four percent of its annual economic output to defence this year -- double NATO's target of two percent.

Warsaw has signed a string of deals, mostly with the United States and South Korea.

According to Polish media, Warsaw and Washington will on Tuesday sign a deal to buy 96 US-made AH-64E Apache combat helicopters valued at more than $9 billion.

Washington gave the green light for the deal last year, which will allow Poland to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era Mi-24 helicopters.

Poland's defence minister this week also announced that a deal would be signed to acquire 48 US-made Patriot missile launchers.

bo/imm/jj

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