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​Poland Secures 200 AGM-88G AARGM-ER Missiles, Reports from 2023 Hinted at Ukraine As Well

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The AGM-88G AARGM-ER missile / Photo credit: Northrop Grumman
The AGM-88G AARGM-ER missile / Photo credit: Northrop Grumman

With a delivery timeline stretching to 2035, Ukraine remains in urgent need of similar weapons

The Ministry of National Defense of Poland has finalized a contract for the procurement of 200 AGM-88G AARGM-ER missiles. The $745 million deal, with a unit price of $3.75 million per missile, underscores Poland’s commitment to enhancing its strike capabilities. However, the delivery timeline, spanning from 2029 to 2035, means these advanced weapons will arrive years after the country’s first F-35 fighters.

Poland ordered 32 F-35 aircraft in January 2020 for $4.6 billion, with the first aircraft expected to be operational in 2026. This delay in missile procurement highlights the lengthy process from development to full-scale production. Currently, the AARGM-ER missile is still in the pre-production phase, with the U.S. Pentagon only recently securing contracts for initial serial production.

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The AGM-88G AARGM-ER variant is a deep modernization of the AGM-88 HARM missile, featuring an extended range of 300 km and compatibility with the internal weapons bays of the F-35 aircraft. While Poland awaits its deliveries, speculation persists regarding whether Ukraine may have already received similar missiles. In late 2023, reports suggested that Ukraine could be supplied with a missile matching the AARGM-ER missile’s specifications, though no official confirmation followed.

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