Poland Seeks to Buy Nearly 800 Patriot Missiles Worth $5.8 Billion From US

Poland has asked to buy nearly 800 missiles for its Patriot air defense system from the United States in a deal that could be worth $5.8 billion.

According to records from the US Congress, the government in Warsaw is interested in 788 units of the PAC-2 GEM-T missile to complement its 2017 order of the US main surface-to-air defense system. 

On May 15, Michael F. Miller, Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), notified the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee of Poland’s intent to acquire more missiles. 

Asking the committee to approve the sale, Miller wrote that it “will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats by enabling it to field a credible force that can deter adversaries and participate in NATO operations.”   

He added: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”  

New short-range missiles 

Poland previously applied to purchase four Patriot air defense batteries and 208 PAC-3 missiles in late 2017. With the latest acquisition, the total value of Warsaw’s Patriot contracts is expected to rise to approximately $16.3 billion. 

While the PAC-3 has a range of approximately 35 km and is designed to hit medium- and long-range targets, the PAC-2 GEM-T is effective in intercepting short-range tactical ballistic missiles, as well as striking cruise missiles and aircraft, Poland’s PAP press agency reported. 

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The DSCA’s Miller recommended that Poland’s new missile order be brought before the full Senate for approval. Senate has 30 days to review and either approve or veto the deal, after which the final decision is passed to the US Department of State. 

Defense News reported last year that Raytheon – the manufacturer of the Patriot system – is capable of producing about 20 missiles a month and was dealing with a backlog of around 1,500 missiles. 

The previous White House administration under President Joe Biden had prioritized delivering Patriot systems to Ukraine. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umierov met with Raytheon executives this week to discuss the potential purchase of additional systems and missiles.