Poland Signed to Purchase Raytheon’s Patriot Missile System
HUNTSVILLE (Alabama), March 28, 2018, Author: Galina Zdravkova (Bm), Photo by IlGiornale.it
After years of negotiations with the U.S. Government, on 28th March, Poland finally signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to purchase Raytheon’s Patriot medium-range air- and missile-defence (AMD) system, reported Defense News.
Under its Wisla Program, Poland will buy two Patriot Configuration 3+ batteries, which is reported to be the latest version of this system. Four fire units (two fire units per battery) will be also delivered by Raytheon, which is expected to take place in 2022.
Poland selected Patriot in 2014, but the deal was signed this year due to the changes in the Government of Poland within the period from 2014 to 2018 and the proposed various other options for medium-range systems that had to be reviewed and discussed during that same period, as well as due to some legal issues. Another reason for this delayed final decision is the fact that Patriot still lacks some of the capabilities wanted by Poland. Actually the ultimate goal of Poland is procurement of eight batteries, so some of the wanted capabilities are planned to be worked into later stages under additional agreement.
Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin will be also involved under the Polish Wisla Program with the revolutionary command-and-control (C2) system IBCS (Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System) and the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) respectively.
“Poland joins the now 15 nation strong group of countries which trust Patriot to defend their citizens, military and sovereignty,” stated the president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Wes Kremer and added: “Poland’s procurement of Patriot strengthens Trans-Atlantic partnership and security by enabling a common approach to Integrated Air and Missile Defense, and creating jobs in the U.S. and Poland.”