Poland to order over 100 HIMARS systems from the US

Photo: The first HIMARS launchers from the US in Warsaw. May 2023

Poland is preparing to begin negotiations on ordering over 100 HIMARS launchers under a framework agreement with Lockheed Martin Corporation.

This was announced by the head of the Armament Agency at the Polish Ministry of Defense, General Artur Kuptel, Reuters reports.

“We will start negotiations on the first executive contract for HOMAR-A in the near future,” Kuptel told Reuters, referring to the Polish specification for the M142 HIMARS system. “We have a (framework) agreement for 486 units, and the first executive contract will be for more than 100 units.”

The Polish government has said it will spend 4.1 percent of its gross domestic product on defence in 2024, the highest among NATO members for the second year. The Polish government has pledged to increase that figure to 4.7 percent in 2025.

Kuptiel explained that before starting negotiations on the HIMARS purchase, the agency needs to complete negotiations related to a similar precision-guided missile system ordered from South Korea.

Asked about the prospects for producing missiles for HIMARS launchers in Poland, the general said: “We are committed to ensuring that… every combat asset, from the smallest, tiny 5.56 round (bullet) to the largest artillery or missile systems, is produced in Poland, but we need to match our capabilities with our intentions.”

In parallel with the HIMARS agreement, Poland signed an order in April for 72 South Korean K239 Chunmoo missile launchers to the Polish HOMAR-K specification, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026.

Polish private defense company WB and South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace plan to produce ammunition for launchers in Poland.

The Armaments Agency has already signed about 100 military contracts for 2024, and several dozen more are expected by the end of the year, General Kuptel said.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga