Poland Cleared To Purchase Hellfire Missiles
The US Department of State recently approved the sales of 800 AGM-114R2 missiles for the Polish Armed Forces. The deal is estimated to be worth $150 million. This is the next step in arms procurement by Poland, which has previously not operated ATGM missiles from helicopter platforms. The Hellfires will be integrated with AW-149 utility helicopters ordered in 2022.
The continuing modernization of the Polish Army addresses the lack of offensive and defensive capabilities in many fields. The procurement of AGM-114R2 munitions is only a part of a much larger program on the horizon. Poland is willing to replace its aging fleet of Mi-24 attack helicopters with AH-64E Apache.
Under the Kruk (‘Crow’ in English) program Poland seeks to obtain modern attack helicopters to enhance the potential of its armed forces in regard to combined operations and direct fire support, as well as anti-tank capabilities. The Mi-24 was Poland’s frontline helicopter for decades, but no significant modernization was undertaken to provide the aircraft additional weapons systems like ATGMs.
The public statement provided by the Armament Agency spokesman, Colonel Krzysztof Platek suggests that the Mi-24 platform will not be integrated with AGM-114R2. Instead, Poland will procure completely new AH-64E attack helicopters – with the request reportedly made in September 2022. This decision is probably driven by the pure necessity of obtaining much more advanced aircraft with additional sensors and solutions coming with it. In the meantime the AW149 will take on the tank killing support role by integrating Hellfires as an interim solution until the delivery of the AH-64Es.
With the rapid pace of Polish military procurement and the upcoming parliamentary elections of 2023, it is certain that the matter of AH-64E procurement be raised again. We can expect some form of an agreement between Boeing and the Polish Ministry of Defense to be signed once cleared by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.