“We are waiting for the final offer,” said Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, commenting on the announcement of the sale of missiles and rockets to Poland by the U.S., as well as 96 Apache attack helicopters. “This is a very significant reinforcement of Poland’s armament,” he assessed.
On Tuesday, President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO.
In statements issued simultaneously with the visit of Polish leaders to the White House, the US Department of State announced the approval of the sale to Poland of 821 AGM-158B JASSM missiles with a range of nearly 1000 km, 745 AIM-120C-8 medium-range air-to-air missiles, and 232 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II short-range tactical missiles.
In addition, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that President Biden intends to provide Poland with a USD 2 billion loan for the purchase of American weapons and offer the sale of 96 Apache attack helicopters. The U.S. Department of State had already granted formal approval for the latter last year.
“This is very important. [...] We are waiting for the final offer regarding the Apache attack helicopters. We are also awaiting such a final consent regarding the missiles because it is conditional consent, of course, but everything is on the right track,” the Polish Defense Minister told TVP Info.
Referring to the offer of missile sales, the Minister of National Defense pointed out that air-to-air missiles are “a very important part of the armament of our F-16s and F-35s.”
In statements issued simultaneously with the visit of Polish leaders to the White House, the US Department of State announced the approval of the sale to Poland of 821 AGM-158B JASSM missiles with a range of nearly 1000 km, 745 AIM-120C-8 medium-range air-to-air missiles, and 232 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II short-range tactical missiles.
In addition, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that President Biden intends to provide Poland with a USD 2 billion loan for the purchase of American weapons and offer the sale of 96 Apache attack helicopters. The U.S. Department of State had already granted formal approval for the latter last year.
“This is very important. [...] We are waiting for the final offer regarding the Apache attack helicopters. We are also awaiting such a final consent regarding the missiles because it is conditional consent, of course, but everything is on the right track,” the Polish Defense Minister told TVP Info.
Referring to the offer of missile sales, the Minister of National Defense pointed out that air-to-air missiles are “a very important part of the armament of our F-16s and F-35s.”
“We will have the first F-35s in Poland this year. They will be in the United States and training flights will be conducted there for the time being,” he said.
Asked about the purchase of 96 Apache attack helicopters, Kosiniak-Kamysz replied that there remains a “matter of the details of the agreement” regarding how they are to be delivered to Poland and within what timeframe. “This will be a multi-year process,” he added.
Summarizing, the Minister of National Defense emphasized that the offer from the United States would be detailed in the agreements.
“But this is the direction we are maintaining, and even strengthening because we have no time to lose. Today, here and now, we need to be armed and ready for any challenges,” assessed the Minister of National Defense.
Asked about the purchase of 96 Apache attack helicopters, Kosiniak-Kamysz replied that there remains a “matter of the details of the agreement” regarding how they are to be delivered to Poland and within what timeframe. “This will be a multi-year process,” he added.
Summarizing, the Minister of National Defense emphasized that the offer from the United States would be detailed in the agreements.
“But this is the direction we are maintaining, and even strengthening because we have no time to lose. Today, here and now, we need to be armed and ready for any challenges,” assessed the Minister of National Defense.
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