Poland buys U.S. Patriot missile systems in deal worth nearly $5B
Arms agreement is country's largest in decades as government aims to upgrade defences
Poland signed a $4.75-billion US deal with the United States Wednesday to buy air defence Patriot missile systems as it seeks to bolster its defences against a resurgent Russia.
President Andrzej Duda described the deal for the state-of-the-art anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems as "historic" for his country and its armed forces.
"It's a lot of money, but we also know from our historical experience that security has no price," Duda said.
The defence deal is Poland's largest in almost 30 years.
The system is compatible with technology used by NATO and U.S. troops based in Poland, Duda said. It includes 16 launchers, four radars and the latest fire control system.
Parts of the system will be made in Poland, a boost for the country's armaments industry.
'Allies forever'
U.S. Ambassador Paul Jones called the deal a milestone that brings the NATO member into a family of 15 countries that rely on the Patriot system for their airspace security.
"We are allies forever," Jones said.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said the Patriot system will increase security in Poland and the surrounding region in an "unprecedented way."
On NATO's eastern flank, Poland is upgrading its defence systems and modernizing its military to reach the highest Western standards after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed the document at an armaments plant in Warsaw.