The US has approved the sale of up to $10 billion of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars), rockets, and long-range missiles to Poland as the country moves to replenish and modernize its arsenal while shipping existing systems to Ukraine.
The military package will include 18 Himars, more than 1,500 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), standard ammunition for Himars, and 45 long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which can also be launched from rocket launchers, along with support equipment apart.
Ukraine’s western allies have given the beleaguered army Himars and GMLRS, which have become critical weapons in the fight against Russian forces.
The sale, which has not yet been finalized, will “advance Poland’s military goals of updating capabilities while improving interoperability with the United States and other allies,” the Pentagon said in a statement. Poland will “develop its ability to strengthen homeland defense and deter regional threats” with the new system.
“A large reinforcement of Polish artillery is approaching,” Polish defense minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Twitter late Tuesday. He said that most Himars launchers will be mounted on Polish trucks and “we will also buy ammunition.”
In August, Poland placed an order for 258 Abrams main battle tanks, made by US defense contractor General Dynamics, for $1.15 billion.
US aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin will be the main contractor for the $10bn order.