Poland received its initial batch of HIMARS rocket launchers on Monday (May 15). Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said the equipment would be immediately incorporated into the national army and will be deployed to the northeast of the country to strengthen NATO's eastern flank, which borders Russian ally, Belarus.
The U.S. State Department in February approved the potential sale of long-range missiles, rockets and launchers to Poland, including 18 HIMARS launchers.
"In a relatively short period of time we will have a significant firepower and will strengthen Polish artillery. HIMARS Academy will be an important training and service center for countries that have, or in the future will have HIMARS launchers," Poland's defence ministry said in a tweet.
"We incorporate the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) into the Polish army today. The equipment has been tested in combat, tested by the Ukrainians resisting the Russian invasion," Poland's defence minister said.
"This weapon will be delivered to the northeastern part of our country, to the 16th Mechanised Division and its role will be to scare off the aggressor, to strengthen the Polish army at the eastern NATO flank," minister Błaszczak added.
Earlier this month, Błaszczak announced that Poland would establish a service centre for HIMARS rocket launchers in 2023 and was negotiating the details of an order for 500 more launchers.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters