The armaments agency of the Polish Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for the Homar-A Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). Under this program, key components of the Himars launcher will be integrated into a Jelcz 6×6 truck. The partnership includes technology transfer and also production orders for Himars ammunition.
The framework agreement provides for 486 Homar-A vehicles to be assembled in Poland, with the first deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026. In addition, tens of thousands of rocket-propelled ammunition missiles are expected to be produced.
In response to the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Poland had already recently finalized numerous other major arms deals:
- Most recently, the US State Department approved the the sale of 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from manufacturer Boeing worth up to eleven billion euros,
- Saab recently received an order from the Polish Ministry of Defense an order for two Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft,
- In June, Poland had ordered modern Patriot air defense systems from the US manufacturer Raytheon for up to 13.7 billion euros. ordered,
- MBDA has been awarded a contract to supply CAMM missiles and iLaunchers for the PILICA+ air defense program,
- Last July, Warsaw concluded a framework agreement with the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem a framework agreement for the purchase of a total of 1,000 (!) K2 Black Panther main battle tanks,
- in the 32 F-35 JSFs will be procured from Lockheed Martin as part of the “Harpia” project. and
- Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) ordered a total of a total of 48 FA-50 light fighter aircraft were ordered.
The signing took place following the International Defense Industry Expo (MSPO), where the two partners presented the first full-scale prototype of the Homar-A MLRS launcher. The system is based on an ammunition pod carrying six GMLRS missiles, each capable of engaging targets with a range of more than 70 kilometers. Homar-A will also be able to fire the ATACMS ammunition, which has a range of up to 300 kilometers.
Earlier this year, Poland also received its first delivery of Himars, acquired under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract from the US government. These launchers are immediately operational and interoperable with other defense systems of the Polish Armed Forces and regional allies.
Here for further reports on Lockheed-Martin.
