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Poland has signed a multimillion-dollar deal with the United States to acquire medium-range air-to-air missiles, aiming to bolster its air defense in response to growing concerns about Russia.

What’s the deal?: According to Poland’s Defense Ministry, the country will acquire an unspecified number of AIM-120C medium-range air-to-air missiles from the United States as part of an $850 million contract. These missiles, with a range of up to 111 miles, will be delivered over a four-year period starting in 2029 and will be integrated with Poland’s existing combat jets.

Digging Deeper: In March, the State Department approved Poland’s request for a series of weapons acquisitions from US defense contractors, amounting to roughly $3.7 billion. The recent $850 million missile purchase is part of this larger budget. Earlier this year, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency revealed that Poland requested up to 821 Lockheed Martin AGM-158B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range. In a separate deal, Poland also requested 745 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and 232 AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missiles, valued at just over $219 million.

Other purchases on the horizon?: In addition to the missile acquisitions, Poland is in final talks with the United States to acquire 96 AH-64 Apache helicopters. The new helicopters would replace their aging Soviet-era fleet. Apache’s, known for their state-of-the-art targeting systems, would significantly enhance Poland’s capability to carry out both offensive and defensive operations.

An increase in defense spending: Poland has significantly increased its defense spending in response to heightened security concerns stemming from Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. As a “frontline” NATO member, Polish officials have viewed the ongoing war as a direct threat to its own national security, prompting a substantial ramp-up in military investments. In 2025, the country plans to spend 5% of its GDP on defense spending (the US currently spent 3.6% in 2023).