The US State Department has approved the potential $6 billion foreign military sale of 250 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams advanced main battle tanks to the government of Poland.
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats, deter potential adversaries, and allow greater participation in various NATO exercises.
The European nation has also been cleared to purchase 26 M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicles and 17 M1110 Joint Assault Bridges.
Included in the multibillion-dollar package are 250 AN/VLQ-12 counter-improvised explosive device systems, 276 M2 .50-caliber machine guns, 500 M240C 7.62mm machine guns, 15 AGT1500 gas turbine engines, and other military equipment.
Should the agreement go through, Poland would reportedly double its inventory of advanced tanks, currently comprising 250 German-made Leopard 2s.
Contractors for the potential procurement include General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Leonardo DRS, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin among others.
Search for Polish Main Battle Tank
Before the US approved the possible sale of Abrams tanks, Polish Minister of Defense Mariusz Błaszczak announced that Warsaw was looking for new main battle tanks to counter the most modern Russian T-14 Armata tanks.
The deteriorating security situation in Europe has made acquiring new combat vehicles urgent, as Russia continues to amass troops on Ukraine’s borders.
“Helping to equip Poland with the M1A2 tank would serve to displace Soviet-era equipment in the Polish force structure, and thus enhance interoperability with US and NATO forces,” ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee explained.
Minister @mblaszczak: I can say that from the point of view of the United States Secretary of Defence, equipping the Polish Army with #Abrams tanks is absolutely justified, as it builds interoperability between American and Polish forces.
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📝https://t.co/PHiGgfW9mX pic.twitter.com/PnhuqPWhMp— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) October 6, 2021
