ISLAMABAD – In an interview with the Channel One radio program “SygnałyDnia” (“Signals of the Day”), Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczaksaid the deal would be finalized by next week, with the first aircraftbeing delivered in 2024.
“We’ve basically finalized the negotiations, with only minor proceduralissues still pending. I’m convinced that in January … we will sign anagreement with the United States for the purchase of 32 F-35 planes, themost modern aircraft in the world,” Błaszczak said, according to The FirstNewslink.
“The first planes for Poland will be ready in 2024. This is the result ofvery good relations between President Andrzej Duda and US President DonaldTrump,” Blaszczak told Channel One, according to Polska Timeslink.
“The decision of the US Department of State approving the sale of 32state-of-the-art F-35 aircraft to Poland means that we are closer to theimplementation of this contract.
This is the most important contract in history for the Polish Army; it isthe introduction of Polish air forces into a new era. This is the creationof capabilities for the air force, which they did not have before.”
The stealth aircraft will replace Poland’s fleet of 28 Soviet-built MiG-29s(NATO reporting name “Fulcrum”) purchased from the Czech Republic andGermany after the collapse of socialism in the Eastern Bloc.
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The MiGs are formidable aircraft, designed to counter advanced US jets likethe F-15, but they lack the stealth capabilities of the F-35.
Insiders close to the deal told Polish daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawnalinkthecost could be “a bit more” than $4 billion in total, which includestraining and parts supplies. Defense News notedlinkWarsawdeclined to sign an accompanying offset agreement, but according to Defence24link,the Eastern European nation is also interested in the XQ-58A Valkyrie“loyal wingman” dronelinkcurrentlybeing developed by Lockheed Martin to accompany F-35s into combat.
Last October, the Pentagon negotiated a $35 billion deal with LockheedMartin to lower the cost of the stealthy-but-pricey F-35 in upcomingbatches, which the defense contractor terms “lots.” F-35A models of thekind Poland will buy will cost $79.2 million each in Lot 13 and $77.9million each in Lot 14, which according to Polska Times are the two lotsthat will supply planes to Warsaw.
Lockheed noted the Pentagon’s deal coverslinkallforeign military sales as well as planes Washington will buy, meaning thePoles will pay the same price as the Americans.
