Poland may decide to provide Ukraine with additional missiles for its Patriot air defense systems in the coming days. This information was reported by deputy Minister of Defense Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka.
During her appearance on RMF FM, she emphasized that the decision to send missiles to Ukraine must also take into account the security implications for Poland, adding that they "need to weigh all the arguments." Although Sobkowiak-Czarnecka does not specify which missiles she is referring to, it is clear that she means PAC-3 MSE missiles, which are operated by the Polish Armed Forces and are urgently needed by Ukraine.
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From Defense Express we would like to note that the decision to transfer PAC-3 MSE anti-ballistic missiles to Ukraine is not only a political issue. Previously, such a transfer caused a political scandal in Poland, prompting the government to officially disclose that five missiles had been transferred.
According to open sources, Poland had only 208 PAC-3 MSE interceptors prior to the transfer to Ukraine. The transfer reduced that stockpile by just five missiles, leaving Poland with 203. Given that two interceptors are required to shoot down a single ballistic missile, this stockpile would theoretically provide enough interceptors to engage hundreds of enemy ballistic missiles, assuming 100% effectiveness. At the rate at which russia is currently using ballistic missiles in its attacks on Ukraine, such reserves could be sufficient to repel several attacks.
If a positive decision is made, Poland could potentially transfer a relatively small number of PAC-3 MSE anti-ballistic missiles to Ukraine on short notice—perhaps a few dozen.
It is also important to note that, in exchange for transferring the previous five missiles, Poland secured very favorable terms from the U.S. The U.S. promised to provide Poland with 50 missiles immediately, within 24 hours of a real threat to the country arising.
The question remains whether Poland will negotiate new terms if it agrees to transfer additional PAC-3 MSE anti-ballistic missiles to Ukraine.
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