The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $12.0 billion.
The Government of Poland has set forth plans to acquire a fleet of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters along with associated equipment in a significant move to enhance its defense capabilities. This decision was formally approved by the US State Department on Aug. 21, 2023.
According to Transmittal: No 23-48, “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of AH-64E Apache Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $12.0 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
“The Government of Poland has requested to buy ninety-six (96) AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters; two hundred ten (210) T700-GE 701D engines (192 installed, 18 spares); ninety-seven (97) AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS) (96 installed, 1 spare); thirty-seven (37) AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars (FCR) Mast Mounted Assembly (MMA) (36 installed, 1 spare); thirty-seven (37) Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR) Radar Electronic Units (REU), (36 installed, 1 spare); ninety-six (96) AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers (MRFI); one hundred two (102) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (96 installed, 6 spares); two hundred four (204) AN/ARC-231A, with RT-1987 Receiver Transmitters, Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) radios (192 installed, 12 spares); one thousand eight hundred forty-four (1,844) AGM-114R2 Hellfire Missiles; ninety-six (96) M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); four hundred sixty (460) AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM); five hundred eight (508) Stinger 92K Block I Missiles; and seven thousand six hundred fifty (7,650) WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) Guidance Sections (GS). Also included are Radar Signal Detecting Sets; Laser Detecting Sets; Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; Improved Data Modems; Small Tactical Terminals; Improved Countermeasure Dispensing Systems (ICMD); Automatic Direction Finders; Doppler Radar Velocity Sensors; Radar Altimeter Common Cores (RACC); Tactical Air Navigation Set (TACAN); Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers; Simple Key Loader; Advanced Weapon System Automatic Machine Guns; rocket launchers; missile launchers; rockets; ammunition; Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Receiver; MUMT Air-Air-Ground kits; training devices; communication systems; helmets; simulators; generators; aircrew survivability equipment; transportation and organization equipment; spare and repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of program and logistical support. The estimated total cost is $12.0 billion.”
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the US by improving the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations. Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
As already reported the planned purchase was unveiled on Sep. 8, 2022 by Deputy Prime Minister and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak following a meeting with his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which took place in Ramstein, Germany.
The Apache attack helicopters “will first be deployed to the 18th Mechanized Division. Not all of them, but the first units. This is because the 18th Division will be equipped with the Abrams tanks. These helicopters work great with Abrams tanks. Together, they constitute an enormous force. A force of resistance, because what we want to use them to deter our opponent,” Błaszczak was quoted in a statement released by the ministry.
According to Boeing, today’s AH-64E Version 6 (v6) is the most modern configuration of the Apache and is ready for the MDO battlefield. A network-centric, fully integrated weapon system specifically built to dominate in highly contested and complex battle space, the Version 6 Apache includes multiple enhancements to the aircraft’s sensors, software and weapons performance.
Designed for interoperability within the ecosystem of Joint All Domain Operations (JADO), the AH-64E v6 is a lethal, survivable and agile system providing the range, maneuverability and performance needed by ground forces and contributes to current and future joint mission success.
By providing and integrating advanced capabilities through a layered effect of on board and off board sensors, stand-off long range weapons and the connectivity required to use all the tools the ecosystem can bring, Boeing’s AH-64E v6 is a fully integrated, optimized for battle attack helicopter that is truly in a class by itself.
Polish leaders have made plans to spend big on hardening the country’s defenses against a potential attack by Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In April 2022, Poland signed a deal to purchase 250 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 from the US. The agreement worth about $4.75 billion.
According to local defense officials the 18th Mechanized Division is to become a bulwark against would-be invaders. The unit is set up in Siedlce, about 91 km (56.5 miles) east of Poland’s capital Warsaw.
Photo credit: Capt. Brian Harris / U.S. Army and Sgt. Agustín Montañez / U.S. Army National Guard
