Poland signs contract for production of 48 launchers for Patriot missile defense system

Poland has signed a contract to produce 48 M903 launchers for Patriot missile defense systems. The National Defense Ministry reported the news.

The contract was signed by Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and Deputy Minister Pawel Bejda at the 3rd Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade in Sochaczew, according to the Polish defense ministry.

Huta Stalowa Wola, a Polish company, signed a contract with Raytheon, an American corporation.

The document announces the implementation of the second phase of the Vistula program, as well as the signing of contracts with Polish industry for the supply of additional components from 2027 to 2029.

The M903 launchers, which Huta Stalowa Wola will produce for the Polish Army, are part of the second phase of the Vistula program, which provides for the equipping of the Polish Armed Forces with a total of eight batteries of the Patriot medium-range air defense system.

The second phase of the program entails the purchase of six batteries, two of which were acquired during the first phase.

“U.S.-Polish cooperation—when it comes to air defense—has never been stronger than it is today,” commented U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski after signing the contract.

The head of the Polish Defense Ministry said that the contract for 48 M903 launchers will be worth $1 billion (230 million).

Warsaw is considering Kyiv’s proposal to shoot down Russian missiles heading for Polish territory while they are still in Ukrainian airspace. Poland and Ukraine included this proposal in a joint defense agreement.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland would engage its NATO allies in discussing the possible downing of Russian missiles and drones over Ukrainian territory.