Poland signs $10 bn deal for US Apache attack helicopters
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Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced to the press that "This is the landmark purchase by Poland for its armed forces of... 96 state-of-the-art AH-64E Apache attack helicopters."
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In this USArmy photo, AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters flyover a mountain range near Fort Wainwright Alaska on June 3, 2029. (AP)
On Tuesday, Poland finalized a $10 billion agreement to acquire 96 Apache attack helicopters from Boeing, marking a significant enhancement of Warsaw's military capabilities.
Following the war in Ukraine, Poland has significantly sped up its military modernization efforts.
Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced to the press that "This is the landmark purchase by Poland for its armed forces of... 96 state-of-the-art AH-64E Apache attack helicopters."
This latest contract is part of a series of recent agreements between Polish officials and the United States.
Just last Friday, Warsaw disclosed a deal to purchase hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and on Monday, they secured a contract to develop 48 launchers for the US-designed Patriot air defense systems.
A firm supporter of Ukraine, Poland has committed to spending over four percent of its annual GDP on defense this year, double NATO's standard of two percent.
The US State Department approved the Apache helicopter sale last year.
Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that the deal"changes the face of the Polish army's operations and complements" previous acquisitions.
The agreement also includes provisions for maintenance equipment, technical and training support, flight simulators, and spare parts for the Polish army.
South Korea, Poland to form joint consultative military air force body
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, which cited unidentified military sources last week, Seoul and Warsaw have decided to establish a consultative body between their air forces in order to strengthen their bilateral military cooperation.
The outlet cited sources that the sides are negotiating the specifics of the consultative organization's establishment, including the launch date. It further stated that the body will function as a forum for discussing collaboration on military strategy, tactics, and the defense sector.
According to the agency, the body would also facilitate the exchange of operational data about the FA-50 fighter jets and a pilot exchange program.
The parties will probably also discuss Poland's purchase of South Korea's freshly mass-produced KF-21 Boramae fighter jets.
Poland and South Korea are actively collaborating militarily, having inked a number of arms deals between the two nations between 2022 and 2023. The Polish side is expected to acquire 48 FA-50 fighter jets, around 280 K239 Chunmoo rocket artillery systems, 600 howitzers, and 1,000 tanks overall as a result of these contracts.
Back in 2022, the US approved a prospected arms deal worth $3.75 billion consisting of 116 Abrams tanks and related equipment to Poland.
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and related equipment for an estimated cost of $3.75 billion," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated in a press release at the time.
The Pentagon at the time also announced a possible deal to sell CH-47 Chinook helicopters and related equipment worth $1.5 billion to South Korea had been approved by the US.
