WARSAW (Realist English). Poland has officially signed an agreement in the amount of $4.74 billion to purchase 250 modern M1A2 Abrams tanks from the United States, Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak said.
“The agreement concerns the purchase of 250 Abrams tanks and accompanying technical support vehicles, including bridges, which will be used in the battle groups in which these tanks will operate. The contract also includes a training and logistics package. As a part of the contract, we also bought ammunition in meaningful amount, which significantly reinforce our armed forces. This is a very important reinforcement of the Polish Armed Forces.” Minister M. Błaszczak noted after signing the agreement in the presence of the US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski.
Blaszczak noted that thanks to these tanks, the Polish army will be strengthened to deter a potential aggressor:
“Abrams tanks will go to the 18th Mechanized Division. The task of these tanks, and the consequence of the fact that the Polish authorities are developing the Polish Army, is to deter a potential aggressor. We all are aware of what is happening beyond our eastern border. Later this year, 28 Abrams tanks from the US Army will be delivered to the Polish Army, so that the training of Polish soldiers can be launched.”
The first tanks for training will be delivered to the Polish Land Forces later this year, and deliveries are scheduled to be completed in 2026. Along with the 3rd generation ABRAMS M1A2 SEPv3 tanks, Poland will also receive a logistics and training package. Simulators will also be purchased. The agreement provides the purchase of the tanks with accompanying equipment, including 26 maintenance vehicles M88A2 HERCULES, 276 M2 machine guns and 500 M240C machine guns.
In 2020, Poland signed a deal worth $4.6 billion for the purchase from the United States of 32 F-35A combat aircraft.
In March 2019, Poland signed a deal, which officials called historic, to purchase the American Patriot air defense system worth $4.75 billion.
