Poland signs $5 billion deal with UK for its future air defense program

Europe, News November 11, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The UK firm MBDA and Polish defense company PGZ signed a $5 billion (£4 billion) deal to continue the next phase of Poland’s future air defense program, Narew.

The MBDA has signed a sub-contract with Polish defense company PGZ, in a program that will “provide Polish forces with an enhanced ground-based air defense system capable of launching missiles to engage air threats, such as cruise missiles and fighter jets, at ranges of more than 40 kilometers,” the UK Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It is the largest-ever commercial agreement between the UK and Poland, aimed at bolstering the security and defense of both NATO member states. “It will create more than 1,000 Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles – Extended Range (CAMM-ER) and over 100 iLaunchers,” the statement added.

According to the UK Ministry of Defense, “In addition to the air defense launchers and missiles, the partnership will see the UK support Poland to be able to manufacture complex missiles on Polish soil in years to come, further increasing regional security through greater supply chain flexibility.”

The UK Defense Ministry statement highlighted that the partnership between the United Kingdom and Poland will enable critical skills and jobs in both countries and bolster European security in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

MBDA Managing Director, Chris Allam said, “The scale and ambition of NAREW is truly impressive – building a Polish air defence shield using our CAMM family missiles and iLaunchers that will protect the entirety of Poland’s skies.”

*^{Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) is a next-generation air defense missile system. (Image Credit: MBDA)}*

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said, “This is another crucial step forward for our historic defence ties with Poland, supplying next-generation air defence capabilities to act as a clear deterrent to our adversaries.”

“We continue to fully back our thriving UK defence industry, and this landmark export deal is yet another example of the huge potential our collective defence sectors boast,” Shapps added.

Earlier this year, the United Kingdom and Poland announced the first stage of a program to provide the CAMM to Poland in a £1.9 billion contract. The CAMM missiles can fly at supersonic speeds and destroy modern air threats including stealth aircraft and high-speed missiles.