Poland has taken a significant step in modernizing its military capabilities by signing a $10 billion deal with US manufacturer Boeing to purchase 96 Apache attack helicopters.
This landmark purchase, announced by Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz on Tuesday, marks a major upgrade to the country’s armed forces.
The deal is part of Poland’s accelerated modernization efforts since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Apache helicopters will be stationed at the Inowroclaw air base and will significantly enhance Poland’s military capabilities.
This purchase is the latest in a series of contracts signed between Poland and the United States, including a deal to buy hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and a contract to build 48 launchers for the US-designed Patriot air defence systems.
Poland has committed to spending over four percent of its annual economic output on defense this year, exceeding NATO’s target of two percent. The country views its relationship with the United States as crucial to its security, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Defence Minister emphasized the significance of this purchase, stating, “Today we are taking a milestone in the transformation and equipping of the army.”
He also highlighted the importance of this deal as “insurance of our freedom.”
The Apache helicopter sale was approved last year by the US State Department and Congress.
The deal “changes the face of the Polish army’s operations and complements” previous purchases, Kosiniak-Kamysz said, pointing notably at the Abrams tanks that Poland bought in the past years.
According to the Polish government, the Apaches are designed to work with the Abrams.
“For the Abrams, the Apache is an essential element,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
In 2022, Poland bought 250 Abrams in a modern M1A2 variant, which are expected to be delivered later this year. It will be the first country outside the United States with the tanks.
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