US State department approves sale of weapons to Poland worth $500 million
The United States Department of State has provided its consent to the possible sale of weapons worth USD 500 million to Poland. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense notified Congress of this decision.
Half of the cost of the defense contract for Poland is for the HIMARS light multiple rocket launchers (USD 250 million).
The other half of the order covers an arsenal of weapons ranging from artillery munitions to GPS-receivers.
In particular, Warsaw ordered guided missiles for multiple rocket launchers: 16 M31A1 Unitary missiles and nine M30A1 missiles; 61 ATACMS M57 Unitary surface-to-surface tactical missile systems; eight universal navigation modules for the M270 multiple rocket launcher; 34 short range guided missiles; 1,642 other pieces of armament that include weapon guidance and control systems, rocket test kits and GPS-receivers; and also advice, assistance and logistics services.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency concluded that the proposed sale would fall within the U.S. foreign policy and the doctrine on national security as it would help beef up a NATO ally’s defense. “Poland intends to use these means of armament to enhance its defense capabilities and strengthen its ability to counter regional threats,” the statement read.
“The sale of the weapons will not change the basic balance of power in the region,” the statement concluded.
In September 2017, the Sejm (Parliament) of the Republic of Poland approved increasing defense spending up to 2.1% of the GDP by 2020 and up to 2.5% of the GDP after 2020. NATO does not require its member states to spend more than 2% on defense.
According to the Minister of National Defense of Poland, Antoni Macierewicz, additional military spending “is needed” in order to “resist external threats.”