2024-03-28 14:57 update: 2024-04-02, 21:50
Photo PAP/Wojtek Jargilo
The US Congress has approved the sale of advanced missile systems to Poland, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Polish defence minister, has said.
Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on the X platform on Thursday that the deal includes the long-range JASSM-ER air-to-ground missile, the medium-range AMRAAM air-to-air missile, and the short-range AIM-9X missile.
"This is very good news for our military," wrote the defence minister. "This will significantly strengthen our deterrence and defence capabilities."
The purchase of advanced American missile technology comes as Poland races to bolster its defences to deter Russia.
In mid-March the United States Department of State agreed to sell Poland 821 AGM-158B JASSM air-to-ground missiles with a range of almost 1,000 kilometres for a maximum price of USD 1.77 billion, 745 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles for up to USD 1.7 billion, and 232 short-range AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles for up to USD 219 million.
In addition, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan revealed that President Joe Biden intends to provide Poland with a USD 2 billion loan to buy American weapons.
Sullivan also said Biden would offer the sale of 96 Apache attack helicopters. The US Department of State formally approved the helicopter sale last year. (PAP)
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