Poland is to host a European maintenance centre for PAC-3 missiles used in Patriot air defence systems.
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The decision on where to locate the investment was taken by the United States authorities.
The project is estimated to be worth around one billion zlotys (€227 million). Poland competed with Germany, the Netherlands and Norway for the investment.
Poland comes out on top in international competition
Deputy defence minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka announced the decision in a post on X.
“A historic decision! A servicing centre for PAC-3 missiles used in Patriot systems will be built in Poland,” she wrote.
She said the Polish bid received the highest score at the application stage. The final decision, however, followed months of talks with the US side.
Speaking at a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, the deputy minister underlined that the investment is important not only in industrial terms but also strategically.
“This is a clear guarantee from NATO that the alliance is holding together and that all of NATO stands behind each of its partners, behind every element of the alliance,” she said.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also commented on the decision. He said the choice of Poland confirmed its importance as a partner of the United States.
“Poland is a trustworthy ally and an extremely important place on the map of global security,” the minister wrote.
Pentagon: investment in the alliance’s defence capabilities
US defence official Michael Duffey, who is responsible for procurement, described the decision as confirmation of allied unity and commitment to deterrence.
“It is a signal that the alliance is united, takes deterrence seriously and is ready to act,” he said.
The Pentagon said the project fulfils commitments on cooperation between defence industries made at the NATO summit in Ankara in July 2026 under the “NATO 3.0” concept.
According to the US department, the investment is intended to strengthen the region’s resilience and allow European allies to assume greater responsibility for their own conventional defence.
US ambassador to Poland Tom Rose also welcomed the decision.
Negotiations first, construction of the centre later
The Polish side now faces further negotiations with American defence and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
“It will take at least several months for such a centre to be able to operate,” Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said.
According to the plans, the Polish facility will be responsible for technical servicing of the missiles, helping to keep them in proper condition and ready for use.
The Pentagon says Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden will also take part in integrating key elements of the supply chain.
Patriot a key element of Poland’s air defence
Patriot systems are among the most important components of modern air defence, and their significance has grown in connection with the war in Ukraine and threats from Russia.
For several years Poland has been building up its air defence capabilities. Under the Wisła programme the Polish Armed Forces have received two Patriot batteries, which reached operational readiness in December last year.
Around 200 PAC-3 MSE missiles were ordered in 2018, while the next stage of the programme includes six additional batteries and around 600 more missiles. Deliveries are due to be completed by 2029.
The ability to service the missiles in Poland could cut maintenance times, improve operational readiness and help develop domestic defence expertise.
Could Poland get a permanent US military base?
Poland and the United States are moving closer to a final decision on creating a fully fledged permanent US military base on Polish territory.
In June, the Polish government approved the start of formal negotiations, with Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz appointed to lead the talks.
President Karol Nawrocki has also called a meeting of the National Security Council for 3 November, with a permanent US base among the issues due to be discussed.
According to initial plans, the new permanent base would accommodate around 5,000 US soldiers, and its estimated cost could range from 15 to 17 billion zlotys (€3.41 billion to €3.86 billion).
Asked about the proposal on 1 October, US President Donald Trump said his administration was considering it. “It could happen,” he said.
Around 10,000 US troops are currently stationed in Poland, mostly on a rotational basis.
