Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is seen as a threat beyond Ukraine’s borders. That is why Poland has announced a major increase in defense spending. The Prime Minister explained that his country had to arm itself “more quickly”. In this context, Warsaw received the first batch of American-made Himars rocket launchers, the Defense Minister announced on Monday. “This weapon” will be deployed in the border region with Russia, and its “task will be to deter the aggressor,” Mariusz Blaszczak told reporters.
In March, the ministry specified that these long-range systems would equip a military unit based in Olsztyn, about 80 kilometers from the border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. According to Mariusz Blaszczak, the Himars “will reinforce the Polish army on the eastern flank of the country and the Atlantic Alliance”.
Towards a bigger order
Poland, a country bordering Ukraine which it strongly supports, purchased 20 Himars in 2019 and received the first delivery of these systems. Warsaw says it is negotiating with the United States to acquire a much higher number of these weapons.
“The US Congress has approved the sale of nearly 500 rocket launchers to Poland. They will be brought to Poland as soon as possible,” said Mariusz Blaszczak on Monday. “We want to make sure that, within the framework of this new contract currently being negotiated, the co-production of Himars can take place in Poland. This is the goal we have set ourselves,” he added.