Poland Investing in Missile Systems to Deter Russia.

AuthorMachi, Vivienne
PositionNEWS BRIEFS

Poland is aggressively investing in major defensive systems and offensive weapons as Russia continues to unsettle its European neighbors.

In late March, Warsaw signed a $4.75 billion deal to procure Raytheon's Patriot missile system, reportedly the largest arms deal in its history.

The contract is being viewed as a major step toward modernization for the NATO member-state as the alliance works to bolster its capabilities. It will make Poland the 15th international operator of the Patriot system, said Tom Karako, director of the missile defense project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

"The conversation [with Poland] has been going on in earnest for the last several years and has everything to do with Russia," he said.

Karako noted that over the past year, several countries have signed up for the Patriot system, including Romania and Sweden.

The high price tag for the Patriot is worth noting, he added. Poland's defense budget is approximately $10 billion annually and makes up about 2 percent of its GDP. "For them to devote that sum, when their annual defense budget is what it is, ... says that the air and missile threat is high," he said.

The country is not merely investing in air defense, Karako said. In late 2016 it requested 70 AGM-158B joint air-to-surface standoff missiles extended range, or JASSM-ER cruise missiles, along with related training and test systems, for a total estimated program value of $200 million. In late 2017, it requested a high mobility artillery rocket system, to include several guided multiple launch rocket systems, Army tactical missile systems and related equipment for $250 million. Lockheed Martin develops the HIMARS and JASSM...

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