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Home > Latest news > US Delivers First Five HIMARS Rocket Launchers to Poland

The First Himars Are Already in Poland. They Will Go to the 16th Mechanized Division

(Source: Polish Ministry of Defence; issued May 15, 2023)
An M142 HIMARS launcher is unloaded from an Antonov An-125 at Warsaw's Chopin airport on Monday. The United States delivered the first 5 of the 20 HIMARS launchers ordered by Poland in 2019. The remaining 15 will follow by year-end. (Polish MoD photo)

WARSAW --- "We are welcoming Himars to the Polish Armed Forces today. Equipment that has proven itself in battle in the hands of the Ukrainians stopping the Russian invasion. (...) These weapon will go to the northeastern part of our country, to the 16th Mechanized Division. Its task will be to deter the aggressor, strengthen the Polish Armed Forces on the eastern flank of Poland and the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance," Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said.

On May 15, during a conference at the 1st Transport Aviation Base in Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced that the first Himars had been delivered to Poland to the Polish Armed Forces. The delivery of the first M142 HIMARS launchers is the result of an agreement in February 2019 to procure the first divisional fire module of HIMARS multi-launcher rocket launchers in the "American configuration."

"We are negotiating another Himars deal. The US Congress has authorized the sale of nearly 500 launchers to Poland. (...) We want to bring the co-production of Himars, both launchers and missiles, to Poland as part of this new contract," he added.

The ongoing deliveries are the first step in equipping the Polish Armed Forces with multiple missile launcher systems capable of striking targets at the operational level, i.e. at several hundred kilometers.

We observe what is happening in Ukraine. Artillery plays a pivotal role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion. So, long-range missile capability is undoubtedly relevant to the strength of the Polish Armed Forces. Hence our efforts related precisely to increasing these capabilities within the Polish Army," noted Deputy Prime Minister M. Blaszczak.

Since last year, deliveries of other elements included in the squadron's equipment, such as technical security vehicles, as well as combat assets, have been carried out successively. Building new capabilities will also include further orders for M142 HIMARS launchers.

This is an excellent weapon. It is a weapon that, in the hands of fine Polish artillerymen, will be an important argument in deterring the Russian aggressor.(...) We have the good thought that, in the soonest feasible time, we will sign a contract for the acquisition of more launchers for the Polish Army. As a result, in a relatively short period of time we will have at our disposal a large firepower, anf a large reinforcement of Polish artillery," Minister Blaszczak stressed.

"We will soon establish a Himars Academy in Toruń, modeled after the Abrams Academy. This will be the place serving, on the one hand, all that is related to logistics, to the maintenance of Himars, but will also serve to train artillerymen. Our ambition is to make the Polish Army strong to the highest possible degree," he added.

Himars Academy will be yet another asset for us when it comes to training artillerymen from other North Atlantic Alliance countries of NATO's eastern flank. And it will also be a very important argument in our efforts to ensure that Himars service, but also the co-production of Himars will be held in Poland - primarily for the use of the Polish Army, but also for the use of other NATO countries that are interested in having or already have Himars.

The meeting, held at the 1st Transport Aviation Base in Warsaw, was also attended by Richard R. Verma, United States Deputy Secretary of State.

According to the contract, a total of 18 combat and 2 training M142 HIMARS launchers will be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces, along with a stockpile of GMLRS and ATACMS missile and practice (LCRRPR) ammunition, as well as command vehicles and technical protection vehicles. The contract also provides logistical, training and technical support. According to the current delivery schedule, all M142 HIMARS launchers ordered so far will be delivered by the end of this year and will go to the 16th Mechanized Division.

All rocket launchers, both M142 HIMARS, including the ones currently being delivered, and K239 CHUNMOO will be integrated with the Polish TOPAZ combat management system and JELCZ chassis.

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Poland Receives Delivery of First HIMARS

WARSAW --– Lockheed Martin, through the U.S. Army, has successfully delivered an initial shipment of HIMARS launchers to Poland.

HIMARS provides immediate capability to deliver long range precision fires at distances up to 300 km and is interoperable with procured defense systems. Subsequent shipments of HIMARS will be delivered this year resulting in additional capabilities for Poland.

“The combat-proven HIMARS will provide credible deterrence against aggression and significantly increase capability of the Polish Armed Forces and their NATO allies,” said Jay Price, vice president of Precision Fires for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fires Control.

The Armaments Agency of the Ministry of National Defense is expected to invite Lockheed Martin to negotiate a Framework Agreement for the Homar-A program. Under Homar-A, Lockheed Martin with Polish Industry will integrate key components of the HIMARS rocket launcher on a Jelcz 6x6 truck. The negotiations will also include discussion around Polish production of munitions.

“The development of industrial partnership under Homar-A initiative marks another major step in our engagement to strengthening Poland’s economic growth and security through partnerships with local industry base. We’re looking forward to jointly create a safer tomorrow for Poland and the entire region,” said Robert Orzyłowski, Lockheed Martin director Poland, Central and East Europe.

A trusted partner for Poland’s national defense, industry, and economy, Lockheed Martin has invested $1.8 billion (USD) in Poland over the last 10 years. Today, its in-country operations sustain 6,700 high-value Polish jobs, of which 1,500 are with aircraft manufacturer PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company and one of Poland’s leading defense exporters.

Lockheed Martin opened its office in central Warsaw in 1996 and partners with the Polish Ministry of Defense on a variety of defense and security programs. The company’s contribution to the missile programs is a core element of Poland’s national defense and provides vital capabilities to Polish Armed Forces.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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