Billions worth of gov’t orders for Polish arms producers
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
28.12.2017 11:33
Poland’s arms producers have received PLN 13 billion (EUR 3.1 bn) worth of government orders under an extensive military modernisation programme over the past two years, the country’s defence minister has said.
Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz. Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk
According to Antoni Macierewicz, contracts worth a total of PLN 20 billion (EUR 4.8 billion) have been signed during the last two years as part of efforts to modernise Poland’s armed forces. Of this, PLN 13 billion has gone to benefit domestic companies, he said.
In addition to an ambitious modernisation drive, the Polish armed forces are being expanded to 200,000 personnel, Macierewicz said.
He added that these plans “[aim] to ensure that the Polish army is able to independently cope with any adversary."
Of the total modernisation spending, 16 percent has gone to the Polish navy, 22 percent to the land forces, 42 percent to the air force, and the remainder to other forces including the newly created Territorial Defence Force.
A key element of the modernisation plan is the creation of a modern air defence system, Macierewicz said. He added that a new short-range surface-to-air missile system could begin operations in mid-2019.
The modernisation programme also includes the purchase of Polish-built minehunter ships. A total of three minehunters have been ordered to date.
(sl/gs)
Source: PAP