US clears air-launched missiles for Poland

Poland has been approved for USD3.68 billion of air-launched missile sales to equip its front-line fighter force, including the F-16 (pictured here). (Polish Ministry of National Defence)

The US government has cleared the sale of air-launched missiles to Poland for a combined USD3.68 billion. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the US Department of State approvals in three separate notifications on 12 March.

These notifications covered 821 Lockheed Martin AGM-158B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER) for USD1.77 billion, 745 RTX AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) for USD1.69 billion, and 232 RTX AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles for USD219.1 million. All the proposed sales included related equipment, training, and support.

“The proposed sale will improve Poland's capability to meet current and future threats by providing advanced, long-range strike systems for employment from Polish Air Force air platforms,” the DSCA said of the JASSM-ER approval.

“The proposed sale will improve Poland's capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring it has modern, capable air-to-air munitions,” the DSCA said of the AMRAAM approval.

“The additional missiles will allow Poland to bolster its defences while increasing NATO interoperability,” the DSCA said of the Sidewinder approval.