WARSAW: Polish bus manufacturer Autosan and its owner, the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), have signed a letter of intent with Raytheon, the US manufacturer of the Patriot missile defence system. The signing ceremony Thursday was attended by Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz. PGZ, Poland’s largest producer of military equipment, is overseen by the defence ministry. “We count on Autosan’s inclusion in the Patriot system, by becoming a big service provider for Patriot production worldwide. It will open the door to […] guaranteed supply of anti-missile defence systems to Poland over the coming years,” Macierewicz said.
He said that the letter of intent strengthens Autosan’s position in the sector, and “leads to its stability and international production”. “We are at the beginning of a road that ends in the signing of an agreement for the supply of Patriot systems,” he added. Arkadiusz Siwko, the chairman of PGZ, said document allows “Autosan to position itself as a supplier of components for the Patriot system in 13 countries around the world.”
In September, Macierewicz said Poland would purchase eight Patriot batteries, of which two would arrive by 2019. The remaining six will be delivered after 2020. He said the Patriots will include a sophisticated 360-degree radar currently being developed, as well as the new and advanced “SkyCeptor” hit-to-kill missile. They are capable of intercepting short-to-medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles.
