LONDON—Poland has signed contracts with European and U.S. companies to further strengthen the country’s air defenses.
As part of Poland’s wider efforts to modernize its inventory in light of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Warsaw has signed up for the delivery of six additional RDX Patriot batteries as part of the country’s Wisla long-range air defense requirement. It has also ordered more than 1,000 MBDA Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles—Extended Range (CAMM-ER)—and associated launchers as part of the medium-range air defense Narew requirement.
The latest Patriot order, which forms the second phase of the Wisla program, includes the delivery of 12 360-deg. Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensors, making Poland the first export customer for the radar, as well as 48 additional launchers and PAC-3 missiles. Poland has already taken delivery of several Patriot batteries equipped with the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System.
The contracts were finalized on the first day of the MSPO International Defense Industry Exhibition in Kielce, Poland, on Sept. 5.
Poland has wanted the 360-deg.-capable radar for the Patriot as the country faces potential missile threats from Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast on the country’s northern border as well as Belarus and Russia directly to the East. The second phase of Wisla calls for continuing involvement in the Patriot program by Polish industry, including production and deliveries of M903 launchers and components for the PAC-3 missiles.
Deliveries of the elements for the next phase of Wisla are due to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2029.
The CAMM-ERs are key components in the Narew system. Poland already has a variant of Narew in service, called Mala-Narew, which uses CAMM missiles.
The same weapon has also been adopted for the short-range Pilica+ requirement, for which contracts were signed in April. Mala-Narew was developed rapidly for the Polish military in response to an urgent air defense need. But the final Narew system will combine CAMM-ERs with the locally developed Pit-Radwar Sajna radar system. The CAMM-ER features a lengthened and enlarged airframe and control strake, and can reach targets 40 km (25 mi.) away.
As well as the missiles, Polish officials expect technology transfer for in-country production of the missiles and their launchers as well as training and logistics packages.
Deliveries of the Narew system elements will run from 2027-2035.
Missile manufacturer MBDA says in a social media statement it welcomes the signing and is looking ahead to working with Polish defense group PGZ on the project.
Both Narew and Wisla are replacing obsolete Soviet-era systems.
Officials also agreed on the delivery of two more Naval Missile Units to protect Poland’s Baltic Sea ports.
These land-based systems use the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile launched from a vehicle for anti-ship defense.
Poland first acquired one squadron of the coastal defense system in 2008 and purchased another in 2014. The latest acquisition—worth $1.49 billion, according to Norwegian manufacturer Kongsberg—will enable creation of four more squadrons.
Poland is set to pay for all the new equipment through an additional hike in defense spending, Polish President Andrzej Duda said at the contract signing event. The country plans to spend 137 billion zloty ($32.9 billion) in 2024, equivalent to 4% of GDP.
“This actually allows for a very dynamic modernization of the Polish army in many sectors at the same time,” Duda said. “This process is happening and being implemented ... it seemed chaotic at first, but today we see its first effects.”
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