The Guardian:
Poland has announced it will seek formal US approval to buy eight Patriot missile defence systems from weapons maker Raytheon, marking a key move toward closing the estimated $5bn deal.
The deal called for eight systems, a Polish government statement said.
The missile defence tender is central to Warsaw’s large-scale military modernisation programme, sped up in response to the Ukraine crisis and Russia’s renewed assertiveness in the region.
Sources familiar with the proposed sale said the announcement looked like a firm commitment by Poland to move ahead. As of Tuesday afternoon the US government had not yet received the letter of request but officials expect it to arrive soon.
Wes Kremer, the president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, said in a statement: “Poland’s formal request is an important milestone toward becoming the sixth Nato Patriot country and the 14th Patriot partner nation.”
Raytheon had agreed to perform at least half the value of the work in Poland, the Polish defence minister, Antoni Macierewicz, said in July.
