Poland’s defense minister, Mariusz Błaszczak, has announced that the first shipment of 14 US-made Abrams tanks will arrive in Poland this month. This delivery is part of a deal signed between Poland and the US in early January, where Poland agreed to purchase a total of 116 M1A1 Abrams tanks for USD 1.4 billion. The United States will provide approximately USD 200 million in military aid as part of the agreement.
In addition to the tanks, the deal also includes the delivery of various support vehicles, such as 12 technical support vehicles, eight mobile bridges, six command vehicles, and 26 maintenance vehicles based on the Humvee. The agreement also encompasses training and logistical support.
Minister Błaszczak took to Twitter on Friday to announce the imminent transport of the first batch of Abrams tanks. He stated that 14 M1A1 Abrams tanks and three M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles will soon be sent to Poland. He further added that these vehicles are expected to reach the country later this month.
The initial batch of M1A1 tanks will be assigned to the Polish Army’s 18th Mechanised Division and will play a vital role in safeguarding the ‘Brest Gate,’ which is a crucial section of the Polish-Belarusian border. Minister Błaszczak had previously stated this intention.
These M1A1 tanks, previously utilized by the US Marine Corps, will precede the arrival of 250 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams, the latest version of the tanks. This subsequent purchase, amounting to USD 4.75 billion, is scheduled for delivery in late 2024.
Notably, last year, as part of a separate agreement, the US military transported 28 Abrams M1A2 SEPv2 tanks to Poland, along with instructors who trained Polish crews.