A contract has been signed between Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. and Raytheon Polska for the production of 48 M903 launchers, a crucial component of the Patriot air and missile defense system. This marks a key milestone in the second phase of the Wisła program, which aims to equip Poland with eight batteries of the medium-range air defense system.
The contract is part of one of three offset agreements negotiated by the former Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, with the United States in September of the previous year. According to Michał Jach, former head of the Sejm National Defense Committee, Błaszczak’s negotiation efforts were instrumental in ensuring that the contracts maximized the involvement of Poland’s defense industry, making it difficult for future administrations to cancel these agreements without hindering the modernization of the Polish army.
The Patriot system plays a vital role in Poland’s air defense strategy, designed to counter short-range tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and various aerial threats, including drones. The newly signed contract, witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, highlights Poland’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its military capabilities.
Jach emphasized that the groundwork for this contract was laid by Błaszczak, crediting him with 98% of the effort, while noting that the current Minister of Defense merely finalized the already negotiated agreement. He also expressed concerns about the current government’s commitment to military modernization, citing fears that other planned defense contracts might not be realized due to financial constraints.
The former defense minister, Błaszczak, echoed these sentiments on social media, underscoring the importance of the offset agreements in enhancing Poland’s technological capacity to build, service, and maintain advanced military equipment.
Jach criticized the current government’s reluctance to acknowledge the previous administration’s role in securing this contract, warning that the public might mistakenly view it as an entirely new achievement rather than the continuation of a process initiated by the previous government. He suggested that a more collaborative approach in recognizing these efforts would have presented a different narrative to the public.