US approves potential sale of $1.77B worth of air-to-surface missiles to Poland

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - The US State Department approved the potential sale of 821 AGM-158B-2 air-to-surface missiles worth $1.77 billion to Poland on Tuesday.

“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of AGM-158B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile with Extended Range All-Up-Rounds and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $1.77 billion,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced in a statement.

“The proposed sale will improve Poland's capability to meet current and future threats by providing advanced, long-range strike systems for employment from Polish Air Force air platforms. This sale will further advance the already high level of Polish Air Force interoperability with U.S. joint forces and other regional and NATO forces,” the agency noted.

The AGM-158B-2 has a warhead weighing 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) with a range of 1,200 miles (1,931 kilometers).

The agency also revealed that the potential sale of 745 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Poland was approved for around $1.69 billion.

​​​​​​​The proposed sales will now go before the US Congress, during which eventual quantities and price tags might change.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland is not in direct and immediate danger from Russia during an interview Tuesday with private broadcaster TVN24.

“There is no doubt that Russia is not and will not be in the future peaceful towards the West, towards NATO, and especially towards NATO's western flank, including Poland. But it still seems very unlikely that Russia will decide on an open conflict with NATO,” he said.

However, he warned that if NATO practically ceases to function, a conflict with Russia would be very likely.