Poland said on Tuesday it had ordered Abrams tanks and other heavy US battle vehicles worth $4.74 billion (4.32 billion euros), in line with a decision announced last year.
“The agreement covers 250 Abrams tanks, armored recovery vehicles, assault bridges … training and logistics systems and a serious amount of ammunition,” Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said during a televised signing ceremony.
“The deal is worth $4.74 billion,” he added.
Polish media said Warsaw had ordered 250 M1A2 SEPv3 model Abrams tanks manufactured by US group General Dynamics, 26 Hercules M88 armored recovery vehicles and 17 M1110 joint assault bridges.
Blaszczak said a first delivery of 26 tanks would arrive in Poland this year and be deployed east of the Vistula river “to dissuade any potential aggressor”.
“Everyone knows what’s going on over our eastern border,” he said, of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
All the heavy equipment should be delivered by 2026.
