Warsaw, “the world's first city fully protected” by an integrated air defense system, after Poland achieved full operational capability of the Patriot system. US Ambassador: “No one should mess with Poland”
Bundeswehr soldiers load missiles for the Patriot air defense system on January 23, 2025 in Rzeszow, Poland. Illustrative image. PHOTO: Kay Nietfeld / DPA / Profimedia
Poland has reached full operational capability of its Patriot air defense system, a milestone in the country's integrated air and missile defense strategy, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced Thursday, according to Radio Poland.
Speaking at Warsaw's 3rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Sochaczew, Kosiniak-Kamysz said the commissioning of US-made Patriot batteries under the Wisla program represented a “historic moment” for Poland's national defense capability.
“This is the materialization of our integrated air defense system against missiles, aircraft and drones,” he said, adding that another 48 Patriot launchers are due to arrive in Poland in 2027-2029.
The “Wisla” program, Poland's main air defense initiative, is built around Patriot missile systems, LTAMDS radars and the IBCS command network. Future stages will integrate systems such as the F-35 aircraft into a unified air defense architecture.
The United States Ambassador to Poland, Thomas Rose, present at the ceremony, praised Poland's leading role in air defense.
“Even the United States does not yet have a fully operational IBCS-based system like Poland does,” he said, calling Warsaw “the first city in the world fully protected by an integrated air defense command system.”
“Poland is now in charge. Nobody should mess with Poland,” added Rose. “If he does, that would be stupid.”
However, the American ambassador warned against an unjustified report, stressing the security threats in Poland's immediate vicinity: “Poland cannot afford wishful thinking (no unfounded hopes), the threats are too close.”
