In 2015, Poland chose the U.S. Patriot system as the basis for the Wisła programme, and in 2018 it signed an inter-governmental agreement with the U.S. for the delivery of two batteries (16 launchers) worth USD 4.75 billion.
Under the programme, Polish systems are to be armed with Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 missiles and merged with the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) designed by Northrop Grumman.
The contract signed with Northrop Grumman on Tuesday, by a Polish deputy defense minister, Paweł Bejda, includes a
total of eight offset obligations with a total value of over PLN 300 million (USD 75 mln).
“Today, with our friends from the USA, we signed another offset agreement, which will directly affect the security of the Republic of Poland, but also the development of our economy,” Bejda said after the signing.
He added that
owing to the war in Ukraine, “it has become clear that Polish skies must be properly protected.”
Owing to the deal, Bejda continued, the Patriot system will have the IBCS developed by Northrop Grumman, and
it will expand the production capacity of the Polish arms industry.
“Polish arms companies belonging to PGZ [the Polish Armaments Group - TVP World] will be beneficiaries of as many as eight offset obligations, which will allow them to acquire key production capacities from the Americans,” he said.
According to a statement by the Armament Agency, the offset deal includes the integration of the Sajna radar systems for Poland’s short-range air-defense Narew system, and the Bystra radar stations with the IBCS system.
The deal also includes the sharing of know-how on the production of new types of ammunition for the Bushmaster cannons on infantry fighting vehicles and the 120 mm ammunition used by M1 Abrams tanks.
