US Approves $15 Billion In Patriot And Missile Defense Sale To Poland

Patriot missile defence system is seen at Sliac Airport, in Sliac, near Zvolen, Slovakia, May 6, 2022. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa  

Reuters: US Approves $15 Billion in Patriot and Missile Defense Upgrades for Poland 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $15 billion sale of an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) and related equipment to Poland as it upgrades its air defenses, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. 

Despite State Department approval, the notification did not indicate that a contract had been signed or that negotiations had concluded. 

European interest in U.S. weaponry has increased with demand centered around such supplies as munitions, air defenses, communications equipment, shoulder-fired Javelin missiles and drones which have proven critical to Ukraine's war efforts.  

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 US Approves $15 Billion In Patriot And Missile Defense Sale To Poland

US State Dept. OKs sale of 48 Patriot launchers to Poland -- Polskie Radio  

US Approves Massive $15 Billion Arms Sale to Poland -- Libertarian Institute  

Poland to Buy US Patriot Missile Defense Systems Worth $15B -- Defense Post  

State-of-the-Art IBCS-enabled Patriot Missiles approved for Poland -- Defence24.com

U.S. Deploys F-22s To Poland Near Russia's Kaliningrad

US F-22 Raptor fighter jets have landed in Poland. One of the world's most modern aircraft will work alongside Polish pilots continuing support on the #NATO's eastern flank. https://t.co/WpeuZsAesg

— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) April 11, 2023

EurAsian Times: USAF Deploys F-22 Raptors Close To Russian Border After Su-27 Downed MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over Black Sea 

After a US MQ-9 Reaper drone was downed by a Russian Su-27 fighter jet over the Black Sea, the US Air Force has now deployed its advanced F-22 Raptors to Poland to strengthen NATO’s defenses. 

In a show of force, American F-22 Raptor fighter jets landed in Poland on a rotational mission to enhance NATO’s defense capabilities and counter potential threats from Russia. 

With the latest deployment, the Raptors are poised to soar over NATO’s Eastern Flank, close to Russia. 

On April 11, Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland’s Minister of National Defense, tweeted that the USAF F-22 fighter jets had arrived in the country to collaborate with the Polish air force. This is part of an effort to enhance the collective defense capabilities of NATO allies on the alliance’s eastern flank.  

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Update: F-22 Raptors return to Poland (The First News)  

WNU Editor: These F-22s have Kaliningrad in their sights.

Poland's Prime Minister Wants More U.S. Troops In His Country

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki says Poland is in talks with the Biden administration about increasing the presence of U.S. troops in his country. https://t.co/oUMcQM6VXj pic.twitter.com/DRzNuhWLCf

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 19, 2023

Face The Nation/CBS News: Poland in talks with U.S. about boosting troop presence, prime minister says 

Washington — Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Sunday that Poland is in talks with the Biden administration about increasing the U.S. troop presence in his country as President Biden prepares to visit Poland this week to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

"We are in the process of discussion with President Biden's administration about making their presence more permanent, and increasing them," Morawiecki told "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan. 

He also expressed gratitude for weaponry provided by the United States, and reiterated the importance of NATO for deterring Russian aggression.  

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Update #1: Biden to discuss more troops in upcoming visit, Polish PM says (Reuters)  

Update #2: Poland’s Duda to push Biden on increasing US presence in country amid Russia threat: diplomat (FOX News)  

WNU Editor: There are currently 40,000 US soldiers in Poland. 

The Polish PM also wants NATO security guarantees for Ukraine .... Poland calls on NATO to offer 'security guarantees' to Ukraine after the war with Russia (Daily Mail).

US President Biden Will Travel To Poland To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

 

Washington Post: Biden to travel to Poland ahead of first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 

President Biden will travel to Poland Feb. 20-22, the White House announced Friday, ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The president is expected to deliver remarks ahead of the Feb. 24 anniversary of Russia’s “brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. 

Jean-Pierre said Biden will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda to “discuss our bilateral cooperation, as well as our collective efforts to support Ukraine and bolster NATO’s deterrence.” He will also meet with leaders of the Bucharest Nine, a group of nations including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Estonia, that was created after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. With those leaders, Biden will “reaffirm the United States’ unwavering support for the security of the alliance,” Jean-Pierre said.  

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 US President Biden Will Travel To Poland To Mark One-Year Anniversary Of Russian Invasion Of Ukraine  

Biden to travel to Poland to mark first anniversary of Ukraine invasion -- Reuters  

Biden will mark one-year anniversary of Ukraine invasion with Poland trip -- France 24  

Biden traveling to Poland to mark one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine -- The Hill  

US Announces Biden Visit to Poland After Russian Onslaught on Ukraine -- VOA 

Biden to travel to Poland at the end of February, a year after Russia invaded Ukraine -- CBS 

Biden going to Poland for the one-year anniversary of Putin's invasion of Ukraine -- Daily Mail 

Biden will travel to Poland to mark one-year anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine: ‘Sending a message’ -- The Independent

U.S. Deploys F-22s To Poland

A dozen F-22's are being sent to Poland to support NATO's air shielding against Russian threats. US Air Force/DVIDS 

Insider: US F-22 Raptors are on their way to Poland to boost NATO's air shield against Russian threats 

* The US Air Force is sending six F-22 Raptors to support NATO's "air shielding" mission in Poland. 

* The F-22s will bolster NATO's eastern flank amid Russian aggression in Ukraine. 

* The Air Force says the Raptor is unmatched by "any known or projected" aircraft. 

The US Air Force is sending F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Lask, Poland to support NATO's "air shielding" mission and bolster deterrence against potential Russian threats. 

The fifth-generation stealth fighter jets of the 90th Fighter Squadron, which just arrived at RAF Lakenheath, England from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, will soon make their way to the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Lask, Poland, according to a statement from US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa.  

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 U.S. Deploys F-22s To Poland  

F-22 Raptors Are Heading To Poland -- Warzone/The Drive  

Air Force Moves F-22s to Poland in Bid to Protect Allies Against Russia -- Military.com  

Headed to Poland to Boost NATO, F-22s Arrive in UK -- Air Force Magazine

Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Says He Is "Open" To The Idea Of The U.S Deploying Tactical Nuclear Weapons In His Country

Newsweek: NATO's Poland 'Open' to Hosting U.S. Nuclear Weapons 

Poland's deputy prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said he is "open" to the idea of the U.S deploying tactical nuclear weapons in his country, and called for Washington to send tens of thousands more American troops to Europe to check the Russian threat. 

Kaczynski, who leads the ruling national-conservative Law and Justice Party, also urged NATO to "do more" in Ukraine—in particular, a peacekeeping mission and delivering President Volodymyr Zelensky the weapons he asks for—and said he is "very dissatisfied" with Germany. 

"The eastern flank must be much better protected in the future than before," Kaczynski told Germany's Welt Am Sonntag newspaper, asking America to station 50,000 more troops—a 50 percent increase—with most of the total in the Baltics and Poland, which are NATO allies.  

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Update #1: Poland 'open' to nukes stationed in country amid Russia-Ukraine war - party head (Jerusalem Post)  

Update #2: Poland's Deputy Prime Minister ‘Open’ To Having US Nuclear Weapons In Country (Uniland)  

Update #3: Poland 'Open' & Ready To Host US Nukes On NATO's Eastern Flank (Zero Hedge)  

WNU Editor: This has been an ongoing debate for the past few years .... Debate to relocate US nuclear weapons to Poland irks Russia (Euractiv), and it is a bad idea .... US nukes in Poland are a truly bad idea (Steven Pifer, Brookings).

U.S. Rejects Poland's Offer Of MiG-29 Fighter Jets For Ukraine After Saying The Opposite Just A Few Days Ago

 

Insider: Pentagon rejects Poland's offer to send fighter jets to the US to send to Ukraine, saying it raises 'serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance' 

* Poland on Tuesday offered to send fighter jets to Ukraine via a US air base in Germany. 

* The Pentagon rejected the offer, saying it "raises serious concerns" for NATO. 

* Zelenskyy thanked Poland on Wednesday and criticized the US response, saying "Listen: We have a war!" 

The Department of Defense on Tuesday rejected an offer from Poland, a fellow NATO member, to send fighter jets to a US air base to send to Ukraine for use against Russian forces. 

For weeks President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the US and other NATO nations to provide Ukraine with warplanes so it can defend itself from Russian attacks. However, the US and NATO have refrained from doing so, fearing the move would escalate tensions with Russia and stoke a wider conflict. 

On Tuesday, Poland's foreign ministry offered to send all of its Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets to the US Air Force's Ramstein Air Base in Germany, so they could be sent on to Ukraine's forces.

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WNU Editor: A lot of confusion on this issue .... Calls Mount for West to Impose No-Fly Zone, Give Jets to Kyiv (VOA). 

Update: Germany has just made it very clear that they do not want these MiG fighters on their territory .... Scholz: Sending Polish jets to Ukraine via US base in Germany 'certainly' not an option (DW). More here .... Germany certainly not sending warplanes to Ukraine, says Scholz (Reuters). 

Update #2: The US Secretary of State screwed up when he said this .... Blinken says NATO countries have "green light" to send fighter jets to Ukraine (CBS News).  

Update #3: He is placing his faith in people who promise him a lot, and then do not deliver when they have to .... Zelensky slams the West over Polish fighter jet confusion: ‘Solve it faster’ (NYPost). 

U.S. Rejects Poland's Offer Of MiG-29 Fighter Jets For Ukraine 

Pentagon says Poland's jet offer for Ukraine 'not tenable' -- AP

'Surprise move': U.S. stunned by Poland's fighter jet offer -- Politico  

Poland offers to supply Ukraine with jets — only to be shot down by US -- NYPost  

US rejects Poland’s offer to send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine -- Al Jazeera

US shoots down plane-swap deal with Ukraine and Poland. What went wrong? -- Fortune

U.S. Approves Massive Multi-Billion Dollar Tank Sale To Poland

Soldiers in an Army M1A2 Abrams tank conduct night-fire training at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland on Jan. 29, 2022. (Sgt. Tara Fajardo Arteaga/Army)  

Defense News: $6 billion tank deal to Poland cleared by State Department 

WASHINGTON — The State Department has approved an estimated $6 billion sale of M1 Abrams tanks and other equipment to Poland as tensions on the eastern flank of Europe remain high over Russian aggression aimed at Ukraine. 

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Friday notified Congress of the potential sale. Poland has requested to purchase 250 General Dynamics Land Systems-manufactured M1A2SEPv3 Abrams tanks, 250 AN/VLQ-12 CREW Duke counter-improvised explosive device systems, 26 M88A2 HERCULES Combat Recovery vehicles and 17 M1110 joint assault bridges. 

Poland also plans to buy as part of the deal 276 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 500 M240C 7.62mm machine guns and other equipment and parts needed to operate the weapon systems.  

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WNU Editor: That is a lot of tanks. 

U.S. Approves Massive Multi-Billion Dollar Tank Sale To Poland  

US Will Sell Poland Tanks to Bolster NATO Against Putin -- Military.com  

U.S. announces Abrams tanks for Poland as Russia threat mounts -- Reuters  

State Department gives preliminary approval to $6 billion tanks sale to Poland -- The Hill