Washington sent Poland the first batch of Abrams tanks set to replace equipment donated for Ukraine, with another two batches expected later this year.
Poland ordered 116 used M1A1 Abrams that had been withdrawn from the US Marines corpus and repaired. Polish crews were trained to use these tanks in 2022 in the Biedrusok municipality, where an Abrams Academy was established in cooperation with the US Army.
The first batch, which arrived at Polish Szczecin-Świnoujście port on Tuesday evening, included “14 tanks, that is, one company,” said Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak.
“Another two tank companies will be delivered later in the year,” the minister added.
As a result of the three deliveries, Poland will have a battalion of Abrams tanks as soon as this year, Blaszczak told the state broadcaster TVP Info on Monday, adding that another battalion would be delivered next year.
The entire deal with Washington is valued at about $1.4 billion, with $200 million covered by Washington as part of the aid funds for Poland. The US also agreed to sell ammunition to Poland, including subcalibre ammunition with depleted uranium.
Additionally, in 2022, Poland signed a $4.7 billion agreement with the United States to get 250 upgraded M1A2 Abrams tanks in 2024-2026. The newly-acquired tanks are meant to replace the equipment Poland donated to war-torn Ukraine.
Poland is the first European and NATO country to purchase Abrams tanks – third-generation American main battle tanks designed by Chrysler Defence that first entered service in 1980.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | EURACTIV.pl)
Read more with EURACTIV
EPP keeps distance from far-right Valencia parliament chiefSpain’s PP triumphed in recent regional elections but in many regions, it will need the support of Vox in order to form a coalition government.
Source: euractiv.com
