Key facts
- Deliveries of US Patriot missiles to Poland will be delayed.
- The delays are attributed to high global demand driven by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
- Poland's first two Patriot batteries achieved initial combat readiness in 2025.
- Six additional Patriot batteries ordered in 2023 are subject to significant postponements.
- Lockheed Martin produces about 500 PAC-3 MSE missiles annually, with plans to increase to 650-700 by 2026-2027.
- Poland signed a $988 million contract for several hundred PAC-2 GEM-T missiles.
Deliveries of US Patriot missiles to Poland are facing significant delays due to a global surge in demand driven by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, according to Polish officials. General Ireneusz Nowak, Polish army operational commander, confirmed that interceptors for the Patriot air defense system, specifically PAC-3 MSE missiles, will be delayed.
Reuters reported in April that US officials had warned some European counterparts about potential delays in weapons deliveries as conflict in the Middle East strained weapon stocks. Nowak indicated that these delays are visible and will impact already contracted deliveries.
Poland currently operates two Patriot batteries that achieved initial combat readiness in 2025. However, the subsequent six batteries ordered under the Wisła program in 2023, along with hundreds of PAC-3 MSE and PAC-2 GEM-T missiles, are now subject to substantial postponements. The original delivery schedule for these was between 2026 and 2029.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz acknowledged the critical situation, stating that the needs of the Middle East are enormous and the production capacity for Patriot missiles and HIMARS rockets is insufficient. Lockheed Martin, the producer of PAC-3 MSE missiles, currently produces around 500 units annually and aims to increase output to 650-700 by 2026-2027, which is still insufficient to meet global orders.
To address the shortage, Poland signed a $988 million contract for several hundred PAC-2 GEM-T missiles, a less advanced but cheaper interceptor, with deliveries expected through 2031. Additionally, the US State Department has given preliminary approval for the domestic production of PAC-3 missiles in Poland.