Poland in talks to purchase cruise missiles
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
12.03.2015 10:33
The Ministry of Defence has begun talks with the US and other countries concerning the purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles for the modernisation of Poland's navy.
Tomahawk missile. Photo: wikicommons
Minister of Defence Tomasz Siemoniak confirmed the matter on Thursday in an interview with Polish Radio.
The long-range missiles would be part of the armoury of a number of forthcoming submarines.
''We are preparing for the introduction of submarines of a new kind,'' Siemoniak said.
''We want them to be equipped with cruise missiles.''
Although the schedule foresees three submarines over a 15-year-period, the minister said ''we want to start the [missile] procedure this year.''
NATO 'Spearhead' exercises in June
Meanwhile, Siemoniak confirmed that about 5000 NATO soldiers are set to take part in US-led exercises in Poland in June.
''Germans, Dutch, Norwegians, Poles and Czechs will be participate [in the exercises],'' he said.
The soldiers are training for NATO's high-readiness 'Spearhead Force', which was mooted at the NATO summit in Newport, Wales, in September 2014.
"I think this is a very clear signal that NATO is taking its decisions and commitments made at Newport seriously," Siemoniak cincluded. (nh)