Poland to buy Patriot missiles for $7.6 bln

Poland plans to buy eight Patriot missile defense systems from Raytheon worth $7.8 billion this year, Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said. “Those systems allow us to guarantee the security of the Polish state,” Macierewicz explained. The deal needs to be approved by the US Congress required for contracts for advanced military technology. “It's premature to say that it is all done. But we have very high hopes that the process will proceed normally.” Bill Schmieder, Raytheon's head for Europe, said. Poland hopes to receive the first systems within two years after signing the contract. The Patriot mobile missile defense interceptors are designed to detect, track and engage unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles and short-range or tactical ballistic missiles.