Poland is negotiating the purchase of Airbus A400M heavy transport aircraft to bolster its air force, Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski confirmed on Tuesday, describing the planes as essential to national and NATO military capability.
"We are interested in purchasing transport aircraft, and we are holding talks in two directions: transport aircraft and aerial refueling aircraft. These are huge aircraft that are absolutely key from the point of view of ensuring the operational capability of our air force", Zalewski told Polish Radio 24.
The purchase would be part of a broader modernization of Poland's armed forces, he said, adding: "This is an important moment, we are talking with suppliers".
Zalewski said the deal could be financed through the EU's SAFE defense funding mechanism, noting that unused allocations from other member states could become available. "Not all countries are as effective in spending these funds, and it turns out there is a certain pool that has not been used", he said.
He said Poland's early start on military modernization had left it well positioned to identify its equipment needs ahead of other nations. "Aircraft such as tankers are absolutely fundamental", he said, adding that such capabilities also matter for NATO, given that Poland commits part of its military assets to the alliance.
Poland's interest follows a letter of intent signed in July at a NATO summit in Ankara, in which Poland joined Belgium, Croatia, Spain, France, Turkey and the United Kingdom to deepen cooperation on procuring and operating A400M aircraft. Airbus has separately offered Poland a direct deal for 10 to 14 of the planes.
A British Royal Air Force A400M is expected to land in Warsaw next week in a demonstration flight, giving media a look at the aircraft's capabilities, according to Polish Radio. The four-engine turboprop can carry payloads of up to 37 tons, operate from short, unpaved runways, and be configured as an aerial tanker or command aircraft.
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Source: Polish Radio