Poland Secures Multi-Billion Dollar Deal for Apache Helicopters
In a massive deal, Poland has signed a contract to purchase 96 Apache attack helicopters from US manufacturer Boeing for a staggering $10 billion. The agreement marks a significant milestone in the country’s military modernization effort, particularly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Since the invasion, Poland has accelerated the upgrade of its armed forces, with recent contracts signed with the United States in a string of deals. The deal also includes the purchase of hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and the building of 48 launchers for the US-designed Patriot air defence systems.
Speaking at the Inowroclaw air base where the Apaches will be stationed, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said, “This is the landmark purchase by Poland for its armed forces… Today we are taking a milestone in the transformation and equipping of the army.” He noted that the deal complements previous purchases, including the acquisition of Abrams tanks, and that the Apaches will replace outdated Russian Mi-24 helicopters.
Poland has committed to spending over four percent of its annual economic output on defence this year, twice NATO’s target. The deal has also solidified the country’s bond with the United States, a key alliance since the Ukraine war.
Delivery of the Apache helicopters is expected to start in 2028, with some Polish pilots already training on the US-made aircraft. Pawel Bejda, deputy defence minister, described the deal as “an essential element” for Polish national security, saying, “These 10 billion dollars are the insurance of our country, the insurance of our freedom.”
The Apache contract demonstrates Poland’s commitment to strengthening its military capabilities, with the helicopters designed to operate in tandem with the Abrams tanks, the first country outside the US to operate the M1A2 variant.
For Poland, the deal reinforces its position as a key player in Europe and its commitment to deterring any potential threats.