Armed Forces
Polish Ministry of Defence Presents the Procurement Plans. UCAV’s and reconnaissance UAV’s to be purchased soon
Agreements regarding procurement of the JASSM missiles and the NSM rocket system for the 2nd Coastal Missile Squadron will be signed in December next year. Price of the American missiles and F-16 modernisation bundle is going to be at least two times lower than 500 million dollars indicated in the FMS. – as MoD Secretary of State, Czesław Mroczek, stated during the conference which dealt with the Armed Forces modernisation programme.
The meeting has been also attended by the Chief of Polish Army’s General Staff – General Mieczysław Gocuł, head of the Armament Inspectorate, brig. general Sławomir Szczepaniak, director of the Arms Policy Department, brig. Gen. Włodzimierz Nowak and chief of the P8 Planning Board, brig. gen. Sławomir Pączek.
Deputy Minister Czesław Mroczek was talking about the supplies which are realised this year, including inter alia new Wheeled Rosomak APCs, Leopard 2 Tanks or new trucks. He also referred himself to the issue of realisation of the technical modernisation in 2014 – PLN 8 billion have been allocated to that purpose, 6.5 billion has been used until the end of October.
MoD plans assume that within the upcoming months negotiations regarding Konsberg NSM missiles are to come to their end. The system will be supplied to the 2nd Coastal Missile Squadron. JASSM missiles contract is to be signed in December. The new missiles will be used by the Polish F-16 fighters. Along with Homar land-based missiles and submarine cruise missiles all these elements will create the Polish deterrence potential.
When it comes to the controversial multi-purpose helicopter deal, the Deputy Minister of Defence clearly stated that neither the deadline nor the conditions will be changed. The offers will be accepted until 28th November and MoD hopes to receive three options to choose from, all of which which would meet the requirements specified in the tender.
Among the programmes which are to be finalised in the near future, the following ones have been listed:
- Procurement of the multi-purpose helicopters and realisation of the technical dialogue regarding the “Kruk” assault helicopter programme;
- Delivery of mini-UAV’s called “Wizjer” and short range “Orlik” tactical UAV’s;
- Acquisition of new type of submarines within the “Orka” programme, along with “Czapla” patrol minehunters and “Miecznik” coastal defence vessels;
- Procurement of Wisła medium range anti-aircraft missiles and technical dialogue regarding the “Narew” short range system..
Deputy Minister Mroczek said that when it comes to anti-aircraft systems, due to production capabilities, delivering planned quantity of the “Wisła” system batteries may be difficult. It is one of the issues which is a part of negotiation process. Mroczek also denied the fact that Mistral deal France concluded with Russia, may have an impact on chances of the French offers within the tenders regarding the air-defence or multi-purpose helicopters.
Mistrals are an element of the NATO and EU stance related to the sanctions against Russia. This should not be treated as a problematic issue in our bilateral relationship with France. Poland of course is not in favor of selling Mistrals to the Russian due to the situation in our region of Europe. Nevertheless, Mistrals are not the key issue in Poland’s relationship with France