Poland will lease missiles from South Korea. The Ministry of National Defense signed a contract

Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that Poland has signed a contract for the leasing of Sidewinder missiles to the South Korean FA-50 aircraft. We signed a leasing contract; We are at the final of the negotiations of the purchase contract; Full retrofitting in the coming months – said the defense minister.

Kosiniak-Kamysz on a press briefing on Tuesday, before the departure to the two-day NATO peak in The Hague, announced that the Armaments Agency under the Ministry of National Defense, signed a contract for the leasing of Sidewinder rocket missiles for the South Korean FA-50 aircraft purchased by the previous government. He noted that at the same time negotiations are underway for the purchase of this ammunition.

“A contract is already signed by the Armament Agency for leasing Sidewinder missiles. There is a purchase, retrofitting and other types of ammunition for those aircraft that will become thanks to our activities (…) truly school and solemn aircraft for Polish Air Force”-emphasized Kosiniak-Kamysz. He noted that the purchase of these missiles changes Poland's position in international aviation.

He added that only the technical issue, the transfer of these abilities and installation (weapons) “remained. In his opinion, “this is the possibility of full retrofitting.”

Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that buying weapons for FA-50 aircraft “is not easy”. As he said, Poland talked to all allies in this matter and “various offers on the table were submitted”.

According to the head of the Ministry of National Defense, leasing missiles for the aforementioned aircraft was forced by their failure, from the time when the purchase was finalized by the government of Law and Justice.

He noted that these planes were not suitable for full use by Polish pilots. “When we took over the government, in the Ministry of National Defense we met with a situation in which, first of all, the FA-50 was not allowed to fly. We repaired it last year. They did not have certification, they had no use permits, our pilots could not train on them”-emphasized Kosiniak-Kamysz.

As he said, FA-50 “aircraft” were completely unarmed, defenseless and did not serve in any way for combat operations. ” “It was a gigantic oversight, neglect of our predecessors,” the minister added.

The FA-50 is a South Korean lightweight combat aircraft. Its basic armament is a 20 mm cannon and various types of suspended armament, including e.g. AIM-9 SIDEWINDER rocket missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-free missiles, as well as several types of air bombs.

Poland has already ordered 232 tactical shells-short-range AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II. A few months after the US authorities agreed to sell Poland these missiles for their purchase, they were signed in November 2024. As the deputy head of the Mon Paweł Bejda informed at that time, delivery was planned from 2028.

At the end of July 2022, Poland and South Korea declared a strategic partnership in the field of arms. In addition to the K2 tanks, the Polish government bought self-propelled K9 cannons and the FA-50 school and combat aircraft in the Republic of Korean.

Kosiniak-Kamysz, when asked about possible progress on the purchase of air tankers for Poland or re-joining the European Air refueling program, reported that work is currently underway in the General Staff of the Polish Army. He added, if these works are completed, “Armaments Agency will get such a task”.

“De facto there is no chance to get to the European (program)” – said the head of the Ministry of National Defense. He emphasized Poland depends more on its own abilities in this area. The deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense Paweł Zalewski, present at the conference, added that talks with potential partners are conducted in this matter.

Among the many needs of new equipment for the Polish Army, military commanders emphasize the need to acquire air tankers, i.e. aircraft with large fuel tanks and apparatus enabling refueling other aircraft in the air. Air Force Inspector, General Ireneusz Nowak, repeatedly pointed to the acquisition of tankers as one of the most urgent priorities for the Air Force.

He explained that air tankers are so -called Multiplicators of strength, i.e. resources that allow you to use combat aviation much more. Without the use of solutions such as refueling in the air, even the latest fighters are limited by the capacity of their fuel tanks, allowing you to remain in the air, e.g. for a maximum of 3 hours. (PAP)

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