Prime Minister Donald Tusk today praised the purchase of Apache helicopters, calling it “a great opportunity for our defense.” As he said, the Apache order is one of the largest contracts between Poland and the United States. This represents a very radical shift in the stance of the December 13 coalition, which strongly criticized the purchase of American helicopters by the former Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak. Even the Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration Czesław Mroczek had to backtrack on his earlier statements. In 2022, he claimed that Apache helicopters “are extremely expensive to purchase and maintain,” and described their acquisition as “controversial.”
A ceremony was held today in Łódź marking the signing of an agreement between Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 1 and the American company Lockheed Martin, concerning the servicing in Poland of American AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. During the rule of Law and Justice (PiS), Poland ordered 96 such aircraft in the modern AH-64E Guardian version. The offset commitments stem from an agreement signed in August 2024, valued at approximately USD 10.8 billion.
Tusk emphasized during the ceremony that the Apache purchase is “a great opportunity not only for our defense, but also for these facilities.” As he noted, the Apache order is one of the largest contracts between Poland and the United States. He also stated that thanks to the American Apache helicopters, which will be serviced in Poland, the country will be prepared to repel an attack on the modern battlefield and will be able to respond to contemporary threats.
Criticism of the Apache purchase
This marks a radical change in narrative, as just a few years ago the current December 13 coalition criticized the purchase of Apache helicopters ordered by Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak.
The current Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration, Czesław Mroczek, wrote the following at the time about procurement carried out by the Law and Justice (PiS) government: “Purchase of 96 of the most expensive helicopters in the world (Apache). Of course, without a tender. Minister Błaszczak does not count the money, but he may miscalculate. These are extremely expensive machines to purchase and maintain. These purchases are becoming increasingly controversial,” the politician wrote in September 2022.