Poland to request its own Patriot missile defense system

KIELCE, Poland, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Poland's Minister of National Defense Antoni Macierewicz said Wednesday the country will seek U.S. authorization to buy the Patriot Integrated Air and Missile Defense System from Raytheon.

Macierewicz said in a statement he signed off on the preparation of a letter of request to the U.S. government and Raytheon in connection to ordering the Patriot system.

The deal would call for eight Patriot batteries, with two being delivered by 2019, he said in the statement.

Macierewicz did not disclose a cost for the program.

The deal would go toward an ongoing modernization effort of Poland's military, he said.

Poland's request will fall under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales system.

If approved, Poland would become the sixth NATO Patriot country and the 14th Patriot partner nation, Raytheon said in a statement.

Raytheon said it will partner with Poland's government during the process to finalize offset and industrial participation plans.

"Poland's Patriot solution provides a proven capability against hte evolving threat of ballistic and cruise missile, and advance aircraft and drones," Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems president Wes Kremer said in the statement.

Also this week, Raytheon said it would offer SkyCeptor, a low-cost interceptor, as part of the Polish Patriot deal.

The SkyCeptor is a new, highly advanced, hit-to-kill missile designed to defeat short- to medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as other advanced air defense threats.

Poland requested a low-cost interceptor option as part of its expressed Patriot interest, Raytheon said.