On May 28, 2024, a deal was executed to purchase multiple long-range AGM-158B-2 JASSM-ER missiles for the Polish Air Force. The deliveries are scheduled to occur from 2026 to 2030.
The Polish Ministry of Defense, led by Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, has officially signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) with the U.S. government. This agreement is for acquiring the third installment of JASSM family missiles, which the Polish Air Force will use. By endorsing the LOA, Poland formally acknowledges and agrees to the previously discussed U.S. proposal and the conditions of the agreement.
The Polish Armament Agency has announced that this agreement entails the purchase of “several hundred missiles” of the AGM-158B-2 JASSM-ER variant for a total of $735 million. In March 2024, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) authorized the prospective sale of 821 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) missiles for $1.77 billion. Poland is expected to acquire approximately 350 JASSM-ER missiles now. The multi-year DSCA offer enables the acquisition of more missiles in the future, eliminating the requirement for a fresh clearance process.
“Today, a contract worth $735 million was signed. Another multi-million dollar agreement for the purchase of air-to-surface JASSM-ER missiles for the Polish Army. We have already purchased missiles from this family in 2014 and 2018. The Polish Army uses these missiles, but this is the largest purchase so far. It will involve several hundred air-to-surface missiles with a range of around 1,000 kilometers. This is not a tactical purchase and solution. It is a strategic purchase,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
He added, “This is strategic equipment for the Polish Army that changes our position and capabilities in airspace. Our deterrence and defense capabilities. This is definitely a key agreement. I would like to thank the (U.S.) ambassador for such persistent support of the republic, for always being with us, overseeing, and promoting these procurement opportunities for the Polish Army from the American side. (…) The first deliveries will be included in the armament of the Polish Army as early as 2026.”
In 2014, Warsaw took a significant step in enhancing its defense capabilities by purchasing 40 AGM-158A JASSM missiles with a range of 340 kilometers. These deliveries were completed in 2016 and 2017. In December 2018, a second contract was signed, further strengthening Poland’s defense, covering the delivery of 70 AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles with a range of at least 926 kilometers (in practice, over 1000 kilometers).
Presently, the Polish Air Force is responsible for the carriage and delivery of JASSM/JASSM-ER missiles using a fleet of 48 F-16C/D aircraft. Upon the commencement of the delivery of 32 F-35A Husarz aircraft, the total number of carriers will be augmented to 80. Recently, the U.S. Department of State has also granted approval for the sale of various types of aviation munitions to Poland. The missiles in question include the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM, and AGM-88G AARGM-ER.
Poland is not receiving the most cutting-edge versions from the United States. Additionally, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Finland, and Australia, among other close U.S. allies, are also procuring the AGM-158B-2 or the AGM-158B.
