European-made Black Hawk gets an armed upgrade
New kits turn Black Hawks into attack Hawks in just three hours.
The call from the Aerospace, Security & Defence Industries Association of Europe comes as European officials increasingly point the finger at Moscow.
The UAV is "designed to detect and engage high-value, time-sensitive targets at long range," the company said.
Though Warsaw did not disclose how the new money will be spent, it could be put toward an acquisition of 32 additional F-35s in support of an air superiority program requirement.
“At a time when Europe faces its most serious security challenges for generations, the opening of MBDA’s new site demonstrates that the relationship between our two nations has never been more important," said UK Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard.
Polish defense firm PGZ said the next step will be to build fully functional prototypes for testing.
The new drone order "shows that Poland is moving from a country that purchased defense equipment worldwide to [now being] a producer as well,” said Poland’s Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Poland’s minister of national defense said today that “at least” seven aircraft will be purchased, with his country receiving four by 2030.
The weapons will go towards Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway under an EU program known as EDIRPA.
“The first 52-meter Saildrone Spectre will be built at Van Der Valk Shipyard in the Netherlands, and the next generation of the Saildrone Surveyor will be produced at Umoe Mandal in Norway,” Richard Jenkins, Saildrone’s founder and CEO, said.
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Two other defense agreements between Warsaw and Stockholm were signed as well.
In Ukraine, V-Bat drones have withstood electronic warfare attacks that have downed other UAVs.
Two extra squadrons of F-35s would double the existing order, from 32 to 64.
“When they come to the US and say, ‘We would like to buy the system’ …they are told, ‘Okay, but [it will be delivered in ] 2029-2030 and you know, it still could be delayed,’” said Poland’s Military Representative to NATO, Lieutenant General Piotr Błazeusz.