The State Department has approved a potential $15 billion deal with Poland for additional Patriot air defense system equipment to integrate with the new Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) built by Northrop Grumman [NOC].
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCS) notified Congress on Wednesday of the new foreign military sale for RTX’s [RTX] Patriot battery equipment.
Under the deal, Poland will receive 48 Patriot M903 launch stations, up to 644 Lockheed Martin [LMT]-built PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles and 12 of RTX’s new Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radar.
The new FMS case is intended to meet Poland’s request “to buy phase two of a two-phase program for an IBCS-enabled Patriot Configuration-3+ with modernized sensors and components,” according to the DSCA.
“The proposed sale will improve Poland’s missile defense capability and contribute to Poland’s military goals of updating capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies. Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” the DSCA said in a statement.
The Patriot equipment is intended to integrate with IBCS, which is the U.S. Army’s new missile defense command platform, designed to connect the service’s full range of “sensor to shooter” capabilities.
Poland is the first international customer for IBCS and is set to reach a base operational capability with the system by the end of the summer, a Northrop Grumman official told reporters during a recent visit to the company’s manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama (Defense Daily, March 28).
The Army in December 2021 awarded Northrop Grumman a potential $1.4 billion deal for IBCS low-rate production and the program was then approved for full rate production this past April (Defense Daily, April 12).
Poland signed on to become the first international IBCS operator after agreeing to a $4.75 billion deal with the U.S. in March 2018 to purchase the Patriot missile defense system along with the new Northrop Grumman-built battle command system in support of its WISLA air and missile defense modernization program (Defense Daily, March 28 2018).
A year later, the Army awarded Northrop Grumman a $713 million deal to produce IBCS for Poland, including IBCS engagement operations centers and integrated fire control network (IFCN) relays designed to deliver IBCS net-enabled command and control for four firing units.
Northrop Grumman also announced on Wednesday it has launched a trainer to teach Polish soldiers on how to operate IBCS at the country’s air defense school.
“Coupling our innovative individual skills trainer with IBCS creates a complete package for the U.S. Army and allies to prepare them for tomorrow’s multi-domain battlefield,” Rebecca Torzone, Northrop Grumman’s vice president and general manager for combat systems and mission readiness, said in a statement. “With this IBCS package, Poland is modernizing their air and missile defense forces to enhance the safety and security of their country for years to come.”