The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters to Poland, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced on Monday.
“According to my agreement with Defense Secretary L. Austin, until the completion of procedures and delivery of the purchased helicopters to Poland, the U.S. Army will provide us with Apache helicopters from their own resources,” Błaszczak posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Last September, Poland sent a request to the U.S. regarding the purchase of Apache helicopters. The AH-64E Apache is the primary attack helicopter of the U.S. Army, designed to combat armored weapons and support ground units. Currently, this equipment is operated by countries including Japan, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Earlier on Monday, Błaszczak announced that the Korean K239 Chunmoo rocket launcher had been delivered to Poland; he also showcased the FA-50 plane Poland purchased from South Korea.
Poland ordered 288 Chunmoo units under a contract worth $3.55 billion. They are to be delivered to Poland between 2023 and 2027. The first three launchers are to be mounted on a Polish chassis in South Korea and shipped to Poland. Further Chunmoo units will be placed on the Polish-made chassis at the Stalowa Wola steel mill in Poland.
The defense minister on Monday also showcased the FA-50 “Fighting Eagle” light combat aircraft at an air base in the eastern town of Mińsk Mazowiecki. He told reporters that the Polish air force had already received two FA-50s, with a further 10 scheduled to arrive by the end of the year. He added that the government was replacing Soviet-era military planes with Western-made equipment, including the South Korean FA-50s “at record speed.”
