US to Sell 208 Patriot Missile System to Poland
The US State Department has approved a possible deal worth up to $10.5 billion to sell Patriot missile defense systems to Poland
Dan Arkin
| 19/11/2017
A Patriot missile system (Photo: AP)
The US has approved a $10.5 billion sale of a Patriot anti-missile system to its NATO ally Poland.
As part of the deal, Poland is expected to receive 208 Patriot Advanced Capabilty-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement missiles, 16 M903 launching stations, 4 AN/MPQ-65 radars, 4 control stations, spares, software and associated equipment.
The US State Department said in a statement that "A secure Europe capable of deterring air and missile threats and other forms of aggression promotes peace and stability within NATO and on the European continent."
According to the Financial Times, Poland has been accelerating its drive to modernize its armed forces since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
"The central European country last month pledged to increase its defense spending from around 2 percent of GDP today to 2.5 percent by 2030, and signed a “memorandum of intent” with the US on the long-awaited Patriot deal when US President Donald Trump visited Warsaw in July," FT reported.
"If this proposed sale is concluded, Poland will have greater flexibility to conduct air and missile defense operations with the United States and other NATO allies that also possess the Patriot system," a US State Department official said in a statement.
The transaction still requires congressional approval, since it includes a transfer of military technology.
The US State Department has approved a possible deal worth up to $10.5 billion to sell Patriot missile defense systems to Poland
A Patriot missile system (Photo: AP)
The US has approved a $10.5 billion sale of a Patriot anti-missile system to its NATO ally Poland.
As part of the deal, Poland is expected to receive 208 Patriot Advanced Capabilty-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement missiles, 16 M903 launching stations, 4 AN/MPQ-65 radars, 4 control stations, spares, software and associated equipment.
The US State Department said in a statement that "A secure Europe capable of deterring air and missile threats and other forms of aggression promotes peace and stability within NATO and on the European continent."
According to the Financial Times, Poland has been accelerating its drive to modernize its armed forces since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
"The central European country last month pledged to increase its defense spending from around 2 percent of GDP today to 2.5 percent by 2030, and signed a “memorandum of intent” with the US on the long-awaited Patriot deal when US President Donald Trump visited Warsaw in July," FT reported.
"If this proposed sale is concluded, Poland will have greater flexibility to conduct air and missile defense operations with the United States and other NATO allies that also possess the Patriot system," a US State Department official said in a statement.
The transaction still requires congressional approval, since it includes a transfer of military technology.
