Poland signs $10B contract for 96 Apache attack helicopters

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced the signing of a $10 billion (€9.14 billion) deal for the purchase of 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces.  

The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) was signed on August 13, 2024, at the 56th Inowrocław-Latkowo Air Base, home to the 1st Land Forces Aviation Brigade. 

The agreement encompasses not only the helicopters but also a comprehensive logistics and training package, including ammunition and spare parts.  

In August 2023, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency approved the sale to Poland of 1,844 AGM-114R2 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, 460 AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM), 508 Stinger 92K Block 1 missiles, and 7,560 WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) rockets. 

(Credit: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Poland)These new Apache helicopters will replace approximately 30 Soviet-made Mi-24 Hind gunships and will be stationed at bases in Inowrocław, Świdnik, and Malbork. This acquisition makes Poland the second-largest operator of Apache helicopters globally, after the United States. 

“We are honored the Government of Poland has placed their confidence in us,” said Vince Logsdon, vice president of international Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “The AH-64E Apache helicopters will strengthen Poland’s operational capability and interoperability with the U.S., NATO and allied nations. We look forward to delivering this unmatched capability.”

The AH-64E Apache Guardian, the latest and most advanced variant of the Apache series, features enhanced engines and new composite rotor blades, offering superior combat capabilities.  

These helicopters are expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2032. In the meantime, Poland has leased eight AH-64E Apaches from the US Army to train its first group of pilots and technicians under a 2023 training agreement. 

Poland previously secured offset agreements with Boeing and General Electric worth nearly $255 million as part of the Kruk [Polish for Raven] program that sought to find a replacement for the country’s aging attack helicopters 

Read more: Poland signs $255M offset deals with Boeing and GE for Apache helicopters The post Poland signs $10B contract for 96 Apache attack helicopters appeared first on AeroTime.

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