Armed Forces
Poland Procures Weapons for the F-35
Photo. Sgt. Michael Jackson
The first Polish RFI regarding the weapons for the F-35A MRCA was submitted in the Q2 of 2023. The whole process is proceeding in line with the previously adopted schedule, Defence24 found out, speaking to an Armament Agency representative.
LOR for LOA regarding the weapons package procurement are being submitted in line with the armament procurement schedule. The first LOR for LOA were sent to the US in Q2 of 2023, beginning the process of procuring the weapons for the F-35 multi-role combat aircraft – Cpt. Paweł Kłosowski from the Armament Agency told us. Kłosowski added that no in-depth information on that matter would be shared with the public.
The F-35A 5th generation aircraft use armament more or less identical to the weapons compatible with the F-16 jets that have been operated by the Polish Air Force for quite some time. Hence, the request does not necessarily concern an entirely new set of weapons, it is rather aimed at replenishing and expanding the existing stockpile. AGM-88E AARGM, and AGM-88G AARGM-ER (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range) missiles may be an exception here. It has been known for quite some time Poland may be interested in those, but so far they have not been acquired. Not only will these missiles be compatible with the F-35A (where AARGM-ER would be preferred), but also with the Polish F-16C/D jets