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The government of Poland will acquire early warning, air, and surface radar systems under a US$1.2 billion deal approved by the US State Department.
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The US Congress was notified of the proposed deal by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 7 February.
Poland has requested airspace and surface radar reconnaissance aerostat systems, airborne early warning radars with identification of friend or foe capability, electronic sensor systems, mooring systems with powered tether with embedded fibre optics, ground control systems, associated installation hardware, special tools and test equipment, program management support, systems technical support, transportation, spare and repair parts.
The proposed sale also includes communications equipment, operators and maintenance manuals, personnel training and training equipment, tool and test equipment, repair and return, publications and technical documentation, US government and contractor engineering.
“The proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” according to a DSCA statement on 7 February.
“The proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats of enemy air and ground weapons systems.
“Poland will use the capability as an airborne early warning system to defend against incoming regional threats.
“This will also enable Poland to increase its contribution to future NATO operations. Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
Raytheon Intelligence and Space, TCOM, ELTA North America, and Avantus Federal LLC (QinetiQ subsidiary) will be the principal contractors if the sale is approved.
Implementation of the proposed sale will require contractor representatives to travel to Poland to conduct the contractor logistics support, training, and component assembly support.
Late last year, Poland approved a letter of acceptance with the US Army to introduce 12 lower-tier air and missile defense sensors (LTAMDS) and 48 Patriot launchers.
The agreement, approved by Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak, made the country the first international customer to add Raytheon’s 360-degree active electronically scanned array LTAMDS radar to their air and missile defence architecture.
LTAMDS air and missile defence radar can be used against manned and unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonics. The letter of acceptance follows delivery and testing of four Patriot fire units for the east European country.
