Poland to buy UK defence export system after inking all-time record deal

Poland has signed with the UK a GBP 1.9bn export agreement to roll out a British short-range air defence system, the latter government announced on Friday, 28 April.

According to the agreement, the UK will equip Poland with 22 air defence batteries with UK Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles (CAMMs) and launchers, under a programme entitled PILICA+.  This is the largest ever contract for short-range air defence systems in the European part of NATO.

The British government said UK firm MBDA will complete the landmark deal with the Polish government this morning (i.e. Friday 28 April), agreeing to provide Poland with cutting-edge, ground-based-air-defence capabilities that will protect the country for generations to come.

MBDA is a joint venture between three European leaders aerospace and defence companies, with Airbus and BAE Systems both holding shares of 37.5%, and Leonardo 25%. 

The UK said the deal would help in “deepening ties with our key European ally” and proclaimed it as “one of the largest bilateral European air defence deals of its kind in NATO and is the culmination of months of close collaboration between the UK and Poland”.

CAMM already being used in Poland

MBDA’s British-designed CAMM is already deployed to Poland with the British Army to protect its airspace. It can engage advanced air and missile targets up to 25km away and is capable of hitting a tennis ball-sized object travelling beyond the speed of sound.

MBDA UK Managing Director Chris Allam said “we are deeply proud that Poland is placing CAMM at the core of their layered air defence systems. This landmark Polish-UK cooperation will provide a major boost to Poland’s air defence capabilities and bring our defence industries closer together.

“The UK and Poland are close Allies, with hundreds of British troops deployed to the country at any one time. That includes the recent deployments of Challenger 2 tanks and Sky Sabre air defence systems to Poland,” Allam added.

UK underlines Poland’s ‘key ally’ status

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “this landmark agreement between the UK and Poland is another example of how, alongside our allies, we are committed to protecting our security for generations to come.

“As well as bolstering European air defences, this GBP 1.9bn deal will also support highly skilled jobs in both countries,” he added.

The sophisticated missiles can be deployed to protect high-value, mobile assets such as deployed military forces or critical national infrastructure.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said “we are committed to supporting Poland’s defence modernisation plans and this upgraded air-defence programme will ensure that Poland and the UK have the ability to continue safeguarding our people and bolstering NATO security.”