Poland has received its first shipment of 18 US-made HIMARS rocket launchers as part of a defence upgrade due to the war in Ukraine. The €380 million euros of equipment was ordered under a 2019 contract, which is vindicated by the combat in Ukraine.
“We are watching the developments in Ukraine, and we know that artillery has a key role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion” said Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak.
Warsaw is investing billions of dollars into weapons, including fighter jets, to modernise its armed forces. The launchers will go to the 1st Artillery Brigade in northeastern Poland, with a goal of acquiring 500 units. Military exercises are taking place in south-east Poland with 13,000 soldiers from Poland, the United States, Romania and Slovenia taking part. These ‘Anakonda’ drills are the largest in Poland and take place every three years.