JASSM-ER launches from an F-16 (illustration). (Photo : Lockheed Martin)
Poland, militarily the most powerful NATO member-state along the western border of the Russian Federation, has clinched a deal to buy 70 AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER), a low observable standoff air-launched cruise missile made by the United States.
Both the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of State have approved the sale of this weapon made by Lockheed Martin Corporation. The State Department has approved the $200 million foreign military sale to Poland.
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland has said it wants this stealth weapon with a range of 1,000 km to arm its fleet of U.S.-made its General Dynamics F-16C/D fighter jets. JASSM-ER is capable of striking targets in western Russia with its 910 kg penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead when fired from Polish Air Force jets flying over eastern Poland.
In addition to buying 80 of the JASSM-ERs, the Polish Air Force will also receive flight test vehicles, simulators, spare parts and other equipment.
It operates a fleet of 48 General Dynamics F-16C/D multirole jets used mainly for ground attack. It also has some 50 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29A/UB air superiority fighters and Sukhoi Su-22M4 fighter bombers in its inventory.
"The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and the national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally," said a State Department statement.
"Poland continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in Central Europe."
The State Department also believes the deal "will improve Poland's capability to meet current and future threats of enemy air and ground weapons systems. Poland will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.
"These weapon and capabilities upgrades will allow Poland to strengthen its air-to-ground strike capabilities and increase its contribution to future NATO operations."
Poland is one of four frontline NATO member states directly in the path of a Russian invasion of Europe. The other three countries are the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
