The value of the signed agreement is approximately 10 billion dollars. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the American Apache helicopters are an element of an integrated battlefield. The head of the Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the purchased machines will cooperate and complement other elements of defense such as Abrams tanks and F-35 fighters. “All this increases the possibility of impact in the battlefield,” said the deputy prime minister.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked the American side for their cooperation, as well as those involved in preparing these agreements. The head of the Ministry of National Defense recalled that the signing of the main contract was preceded by the conclusion of offset agreements with the American defense industry. These included three offset agreements worth approximately one billion zlotys covering investments in plants in Łódź and Dęblin. The head of the Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the helicopters will be stationed at bases in Inowrocław, Świdnik and Malbork.
In 2015, the government wanted to buy 50 Caracals from France – multi-role transport helicopters for almost thirteen and a half billion złoty. At that time, the French offered an offset worth three billion euros. The helicopter contract was supposed to benefit the plants in Radom and Łódź. However, after the parliamentary elections, the Ministry of National Defense under the leadership of Antoni Macierewicz terminated the contract for the helicopters. The manufacturer of the Caracals demanded compensation. After five years, in 2021, Poland paid Airbus eighty million złoty.
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