The Polish Ministry of Defence plans to purchase heavy transport aircraft and aerial refuelling tankers Airbus A400M for the needs of the national armed forces and NATO. The deal could be financed through the EU's SAFE mechanism. This is reported by Polske Radio, the portal PromPolitInform reports.
Polish Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Zalewski confirmed the start of negotiations for the purchase of heavy transport vessels Airbus A400M. Updating the aircraft fleet is critical for ensuring the operational capabilities of the Polish Air Force.
Poland modernises aviation to strengthen defence
The defence ministry is interested in acquiring both transport modifications and refuelling aircraft. According to Pawel Zalewski, these machines are essential for performing tasks within the framework of commitments to the North Atlantic Alliance.
The deal could be financed through the EU’s SAFE defence funding mechanism. The Polish side expects to utilise unused funds allocated to other member states.
In July, at the NATO summit in Ankara, Poland signed a letter of intent together with several other states regarding the joint operation of the A400M. At the same time, Airbus made an offer for the direct sale of 10 to 14 units of equipment to Warsaw.
In the near future, a British Airbus A400M will arrive in Warsaw for demonstration flights. This four-engine turboprop aircraft is capable of carrying payloads of up to 37 tonnes and operating from unpaved runways.
Illustrative photo: Julian Herzog (Website) / CC BY 4.0
