Poland, US sign deal for HIMARS rocket launchers

The Polish Ministry of Defense on Wednesday signed a long-term contract to buy the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, from the United States.

Polish Minister Mariusz Błaszczak confirmed the conclusion of a contract for the supply of 20 HIMARS missile launchers for country‘s Army during an official ceremony with the participation of Polish President Andrzej Duda, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and soldiers of both countries.

“The HIMARS system is a weapon used by the most powerful army in the world – the US Army; it is a weapon that will ensure Poland’s security and safeguard NATO’s eastern flank,” said on Wednesday the head of the Defense Ministry Mariusz Błaszczak.

The Polish Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the contract is valued at $414 million.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said: “I am extremely glad that the visit to Poland by the US vice-president has started with this important and symbolic event, namely, the signing of a deal under which Poland will buy the HIMARS self-propelled rocket artillery system”.

In October 2018, the Polish government sent an official request to buy the Lockheed Martin-made systems rocket launchers under its HOMAR program. Last November, Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced the U.S. State Department had approved the request, and he said he was positive the Congress would also provide its approval to the deal.

“Poland intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a release at the time. “This will contribute to Poland’s interoperability with the United States and other allies.”

The HIMARS is a weapons system made up of the M142, five-ton chassis vehicle and can carry either a launcher pod of six rockets or one MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

Wiceprezydent #USA @mike_pence: dziękuję żołnierzom 🇵🇱🇺🇸za służbę – ramię w ramię- na rzecz wspólnego bezpieczeństwa. To pokazuje dobrą jakość sojuszu Polski i USA, naszej wspolpracy w dziedzinie obronności. pic.twitter.com/l9eYtWuZjt

— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej 🇵🇱 (@MON_GOV_PL) 13 February 2019