Poland’s Military Might Gets a Boost: Historic Partnership Sealed
Poland Signs Landmark Deal to Purchase 96 AH-64E Apache Helicopters
Poland has officially signed a contract to purchase 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters manufactured by the US-based Boeing Corporation in a landmark deal.
The PAP news agency quoted Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz as saying that this is a milestone in the army’s “transformation process” with “the most advanced variant of the most modern helicopter”. The 96 AH-64E Apaches are a “breakthrough” in the Polish army’s capabilities.
According to AFP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters that the deal worth around $10 billion is “a landmark” for the country’s military. Breaking Defense reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the contract to buy 96 AH-64E Apaches “changes the face of operations” of the Polish military, adding to the defense procurement deals that Warsaw is currently implementing.
Mr. Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz affirmed that the Polish military’s operating philosophy is cooperation and integration; stating that the country’s military “cannot function well” without reconnaissance capabilities, helicopters, drones, and air forces.
The Polish army is expected to receive the first AH-64E Apaches in 2028 and the deal will be completed in 2032. According to Reuters, along with 96 AH-64E Apaches, the deal also includes a logistics package related to maintenance equipment, technical support, training support…
Stars and Stripes reported that the AH-64 Apache is considered one of the best helicopters in the world, capable of performing reconnaissance, security and attack operations. The National Interest magazine ranked the AH-64 Apache with many variants (of which the AH-64E Apache is the latest variant) in the top 5 most powerful helicopters of all time. Each AH-64 Apache is equipped with many types of weapons such as the M230 cannon, Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, Hydra rockets…
According to the Defense News website, the 96 AH-64E Apaches will make the Polish army the second largest owner of this type of helicopter in the world, after the US army. This is also the largest purchase of Western-made helicopters in Poland’s history. The Polish army will use the AH-64E Apache to replace the Soviet-made Mil Mi-2 and Mi-24 helicopters.
The US State Department approved the sale of 96 AH-64E Apaches to Poland in August 2023. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the sale would support Washington’s foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a NATO ally that is “a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe”. The sale would improve Poland’s ability to respond to current and future threats “by providing a credible force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations”.
US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski said the sale was a testament to the trust between the two sides because “this type of advanced capability is not shared by everyone and requires a special relationship”.
According to Stars and Stripes, the contract to buy 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters is the latest defense procurement deal in the context of Poland’s accelerated military modernization towards the goal of having one of the “most modern and largest” armies in Europe by 2032. AFP reported that in addition to the AH-64E Apache helicopters, Poland has recently signed a series of other contracts with the US, including a deal worth 855 million USD to buy hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles (expected to be delivered in the 2029-2033 period) and a deal worth 1.23 billion USD to produce 48 Patriot air defense missile launchers (expected to be delivered in the 2027-2029 period).
Recent years have seen a sharp increase in Poland’s defense spending. According to Reuters, this year, Poland spent more than 4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense and announced that this figure would increase to 5% of GDP by 2025, citing the “end of the post-Cold War permanent peace.” In terms of percentage, these are the highest defense spending levels among NATO members, surpassing even the United States.
Professor Jamie Shea of the University of Exeter (UK) commented that Poland will become “a military superpower of the European Union (EU) and a European military superpower within NATO” if defense procurement plans “go in the right direction”. “Recent years have witnessed rapid and effective defense procurement, helping Poland continue to strengthen its military power. Ensuring security is a priority for Poland and Poland will not skimp on this goal. Polish military units will soon have state-of-the-art weapons and equipment”, Polish magazine Polska Zbrojna stated.