US Department of State approved the sale of Patriot missile systems to Poland
The US State Department approved the sale of Patriot anti-missile systems to Poland as reported on Friday, November 17th by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The total value of the transaction is estimated at 8.9 billion euros (10.5 billion dollars). The final decision must be made by the US Congress.
The deal will include 208 missiles for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system, 16 launchers, 4 radars, 4 control stations, spare parts, software, and equipment. In addition, Poland will pay for technical, engineering, and procurement support.
The US and Poland agreed on a military deal in July 2017 during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Warsaw. The Patriot systems will become a part of the Polish defense against possible Russian aggression. The Eastern flank of the EU and NATO - Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - has been facing an increased threat from Moscow since the beginning of the military conflict in eastern Ukraine.