US officials have informed their European counterparts that some previously contracted arms deliveries are likely to be delayed, Reuters found. The reason for the delays is the US war with Iran, which is depleting weapons supplies.
According to the agency, several European countries will be affected by this situation, including countries of the Baltic region and Scandinavia.
See also: Huge military spending from the USA. Poland does not save on the cheap dollar
Weapons deliveries from the US are likely to be delayed
Some of the weapons in question were purchased by European countries under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, but have not yet been delivered, the sources cited by the agency added. These deliveries will likely be delayed.
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) is a U.S. government program that enables the sale of American military equipment, services and training to allies. It is a form of defense cooperation in which the transaction takes place directly between the U.S. government and a foreign country. It is the Department of Defense that buys equipment from contractors and resells it.
See also: Persian Gulf countries are changing their front. Americans may lose contracts
Supplies of military equipment from the USA to Poland
In recent years, Poland has embarked on major arms purchases – and we largely obtained equipment from the USA.
The United States is one of the largest arms suppliers to Poland. We mainly buy missile systems, planes, armored vehicles and tanks from the USA. The most important purchases include: F-35 fighters, Patriot systems, AH-64E Apache helicopters, as well as Abrams tanks and Himars rocket artillery systems.
After the operation in Iran massively destroyed American warehouses, Therefore, it can be expected that the priority for US companies will be to replenish troops from the US, rather than deliver weapons to Poland.
What is most at risk? Or maybe we will take advantage of the “special ally” status and there will be no problems? We asked politicians, experts – and American defense companies – about this. More in this text.
Patriot batteries
Polskie has two Patriot system batteries, which include, among others: 16 launchers. Deliveries of the next six batteries, which we have contracted for in autumn 2023, should begin in 2027.
As “Rzeczpospolita” found out, due to Iranian retaliatory attacks, the Americans, in unofficial talks with Polish representatives, suggested that we consider transferring one of our Patriot system batteries to the Middle East.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, commented on these arrangements. He assured that Poland did not intend to move the Patriots anywhere.
