Poland's Choice for Patriot

NS O VIEWS AND OPINI Reuters RTR2EEAW/Peter Andrews RTR2EEAW/Peter Reuters US soldiers stand next to a Patriot surface-to-air missile battery at an army base in Morag, Poland. Poland’s Choice for Patriot by Debalina Ghoshal s a part of its Wisla program, Poland has decided proven Patriot system. Furthermore, over the years, Poland to finalize an agreement to buy a Raytheon- had scrutinized the systems that had bid for Poland’s air and made Patriot air and missile defence system missile defence capabilities to check if those systems could through a contract worth US $5.6 Billion. provide a 360 degree coverage. This deal has been Acompleted under Poland’s Narew program. Expanding and modern- izing its missile defence system is a key element to the nation’s military modernization process. During the initial planning stages, Poland had also given serious consideration with respect to the prospect of deploying the Medium Extended Range Air and Missile Defence System (MEADS). In 2014, the medium range air and missile defence program had nine bidders, namely, MBDA, Thales, Israel Aerospace Industries, MEADS, Rafael, Aselsan, Kongsberg, Diehl BGT Defense, and Poland’s PGZ. However, later on, Poland decided to employ only systems with opera- tionally proven defence capabilities, rather than those in the developmental Gazeta RTSRUJS/Agencja Reuters phase, and thus, it rejected MEADS and chose instead the mature and Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz Vol. 17, No. 1, Winter 2016 • Canadian Military Journal 75 Reuters RTR4UGQW/Agencja Gazeta RTR4UGQW/Agencja Reuters Polish and American soldiers look at a Patriot missile defense battery during a joint exercise at the military grounds in Sochaczew, Poland. © REUTERS/Alamy Stock Photo, Image ID GGW1BH Photo, Stock © REUTERS/Alamy US and Romanian officials at the official ground breaking ceremony for the US Aegis Ashore missile defense facility at Deveselu, 28 October 2013 76 Canadian Military Journal • Vol. 17, No. 1, Winter 2016 The new missile defence system in Poland will form a NS component of the European O Phased Adaptive Approach, which is likely to become operational beginning in 2018. In May 2016, the United States operationalized the first $800 million Aegis Ashore Missile Defence System shield in Romania at the remote Deveselu air base. Poland has also agreed to host land-based components of the Aegis ballistic missile defence program that would use the Aegis BMD 5.1 combat system and SM-3 VIEWS AND OPINI IB and IIA interceptors. Russia’s eastward expansion in Europe has not been viewed by Poland in a positive light. Poland is apprehensive of Russia’s expansion, espe- cially with respect to reports of Russia planning to field tactical nuclear missiles in Kalingrad, an exclave of Russia that borders Poland and the Baltic States - Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Warsaw has characterized these moves as “disturbing” © SPUTNIK/Alamy Stock Photo, Image ID B9ABFH Photo, Stock © SPUTNIK/Alamy and “alarming.” Poland’s apprehension has a historic Russian President Vladimir Putin background. In September 1939, despite having signed a non-aggression pact with In 2015, Poland’s new Government, the Law and Justice Party Poland in 1932, the Soviet Union invaded the country and perse- (PiS), hastened the process of the tender to acquire nine batteries cuted countless numbers of its citizens. After the Second World that would provide Poland with a short range air defence capabil- War, Poland also lost some territory to the Soviet Union as it ity. However, the Patriot deal eventually slowed down under the became a part of the Warsaw Pact, and it was only after the Cold new government, despite Poland offering assurance of its intent War that Poland gained its independence. Since the Russia- to buy the system. The delay in the decision to purchase was due Georgian conflict and the Ukrainian crisis, Poland’s apprehensions to the Patriot’s high price and protracted delivery date, according have only intensified. Poland believes that Russia is attempting to to Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz. The Patriot system is regain “the power it lost after the break-up of the Soviet Union,” already being used in Europe by Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, aspirations that could deeply affect Moldova, Georgia, Poland, the United States, the Netherlands and Poland. The Netherlands, and the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia). the United States, Germany and Spain have also fielded the Patriot system in Turkey, although Patriot deployment to Turkey was Russia has raised concerns with respect to the missile defence subsequently withdrawn by the United States, the Netherlands deployment by the United States and NATO in Europe, because and Germany. Therefore, it was obvious that Poland would seek they believe that the defence system negates their nuclear deterrent a defence capability that was interoperable with its NATO allies. capability and creates strategic destabilization. In fact, in 2016, At present, Poland probably will acquire the PAC-3 (MIM-104F) a Russian Presidential spokesperson stated: “Deployment of the advanced defence version of the Patriot, since it already hosts ABM system poses a certain threat to the Russian Federation.” training rotations of a battery of US Patriots with the PAC-2 (MIM- However, NATO repeatedly has repeatedly assured Russia that 104C) capability. This prior experience with the older Patriot the missile defence system is not aimed at Russia, but is being system means that it should be easier for Poland to assimilate and fielded in Europe to counter ballistic missile threats from Iran. operate the advanced PAC-3 systems. Moreover, Raytheon has also agreed to co-develop the new system with Poland. Vol. 17, No. 1, Winter 2016 • Canadian Military Journal 77 © Alexey Zarubin/Alamy Stock Photo, Image ID BKTWNG Image ID BKTWNG Photo, Zarubin/Alamy Stock Alexey © Iskander (NATO code name SS-26 Stone), a short range mobile missile system, is displayed during the Red Square Moscow Victory Parade of 2010. Moscow also views its decision to station nuclear capable Debalina Ghoshal is a Research Fellow, Centre for Human missiles in Kalingrad as its “right” to do so as a “logical response” Security Studies, Hyderabad, specializing in strategic studies, to a missile defence threat from the United States. Nonetheless, nuclear security, and missile and missile defence issues. Her in 1991, Russia had pledged to ensure that the Baltic States are articles have appeared in the Federation of American Scientists, and remain nuclear weapons free. Poland and the Baltic States are RUSI News Brief, The Diplomat, Yale Global, Defence Review apprehensive of Russia breaking this pledge. Defence Minister Asia, and the European Security and Defence Union, to name a Macierewicz fears that the deployment of Iskander missiles by few of her credits. Russia in Kalingrad can put Poland and Germany at threat, and therefore views a defence system as a credible deterrent against these threats. 78 Canadian Military Journal • Vol. 17, No. 1, Winter 2016.

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