The contract was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak on Wednesday, news agencies reported.
“It’s a significant boost to the Polish armed forces,” Błaszczak told reporters.
Prototype models in 2023
He announced that "prototype models of the tank hunters" would be ready next year and would be delivered to a Polish Army anti-tank regiment stationed in the northeastern city of Suwałki near Russia's Kaliningrad region.
“We want the Polish Army to be full of such units,” Błaszczak said. “Every division will have anti-tank regiments.”
“The Suwałki anti-tank regiment should achieve operational readiness in two years’ time,” Błaszczak declared, adding that further regiments would be ready in three years.
Ottokar-Brzoza tank destroyers
The Ottokar-Brzoza tank destroyers will be produced by a consortium of Polish state-owned arms contractors, led by the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), officials said.
The tank hunters will be equipped with UK-made Brimstone anti-tank guided missiles, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The announcement marks the latest step in the government’s drive to modernise the army in response to the Russian threat, officials told reporters.
Poland in April signed a USD 4.74 billion deal to buy 250 new Abrams tanks from the United States in what officials hailed as a key step in boosting the country’s defences amid Russia's war against Ukraine.
In recent weeks, the government has announced the start of deliveries of the C130H Hercules military transport aircraft, as well as the purchase of 116 used Abrams tanks, grenade launchers, turret systems and military helicopters, among other equipment.
Wednesday is day 147 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, wydarzenia.interia.pl