Poland’s Vistula Air Defense Program Reaches Second Phase
The introduction of mid-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense capabilities is one of the most important aims of the Polish Ministry of Defense. The idea behind the program sparked at the beginning of the 2010s and was heavily prioritized after the changes in the Polish government in 2015. Poland sought the contract for the Patriot system as a chance to fill the gap after outdated Soviet systems were slowly withdrawn from service (with some exceptions).
A foreign military sale (FMS) agreement for the procurement of the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system was signed in March 2018. The deal priced at $4.75 billion contained the delivery of over 200 PAC-3 MSE missiles, 16 M903 launchers, 4 AN/MPQ 65 radars, and the future procurement of the Integrated Air and Missile Defence Battle Command System. Alongside the Vistula program, the Polish MoD has also began the procurement of short-to-medium range anti-air and anti-missile defenses under the program Narew, which utilizes MBDA-manufactured CAMM missiles.
By the end of February 2024, the Polish Ministry of Defense reached another milestone in the realization of the Vistula program. The procurement of the Integrated Air and Missile Defence Battle Command System (IBCS) was finally signed under Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. The IBCS procurement will cost $2.53 billion. It means that the Vistula program enters its second phase and awaits the delivery of further Patriot missile batteries as well as integration with domestic defense systems.
The command system will be employed for all of the anti-air and anti-missile layers, from short (Pilica), intermediate (Narew), and medium-range (Vistula) systems, connecting them in a single combat entity, enhancing the management of all air-defense assets.
Poland awaits the arrival of 6 remaining Patriot batteries in the near term with the implementation of IBCS currently pending. By the end of the decade Poland is expected to complete fielding the most modern and advanced air defense system in Europe.