- Defence Minister attends Poland’s largest
defence trade show.
- UK deepening defence ties with key Nato Ally, building on
furthering of cooperation with Poland through export contracts
and deployments.
- Celebrating positive step in Poland’s NAREW ground-based air
defence programme.
The UK and Poland have strengthened their defence ties today as
Defence Minister visited MSPO in Kielce,
Poland.
The largest defence trade fair in Poland, attracting delegations
from across the world, MSPO brings together nations to
collaborate on, discuss and view some of the world’s leading
defence equipment, capabilities and ambitions.
During the visit, Cartlidge met with the Head of Poland’s
National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, and Deputy Defence
Minister Michał Wiśniewski, and engaged a number of the UK’s key
Defence companies displaying at the event - including MBDA,
Babcock and BAE Systems. Cartlidge discussed how the UK defence
industry can further support the Polish Armed Forces through
future defence exports and deployments.
The UK and Poland are historic defence partners and NATO Allies
and will continue to work closely together on key strategic
defence programmes, including Poland’s air defence programme,
supporting the economies of both nations.
Minister for Defence Procurement, , said:
Poland is one of our closest Allies and a key strategic partner
as we work together to bolster European security in the wake of
Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Through crucial defence export programmes, we continue to support
Poland’s defence modernisation plans, as they strengthen their
defence capabilities.
Earlier this year, the UK and Poland announced the first stage of
a programme to deliver the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM)
to Poland in a £1.9 billion contract – the largest ever defence
export contract between the two nations.
In a contract supporting hundreds of jobs across the UK and
Poland delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the
economy, UK firm MBDA completed the landmark deal with the Polish
government in April 2023, agreeing to provide Poland with
cutting-edge, ground-based-air-defence capabilities that will
protect the country for generations to come.
Today, at MSPO, the Polish government signed an agreement with
Polish defence company PGZ, paving the way for Poland to develop
another enhanced ground-based air defence system called NAREW,
again in co-operation with MBDA.
The UK welcomes the news that the executive agreement on
NAREW has been signed between the Polish Ministry of National
Defence and PGZ. This is a critical milestone in this important
air defence programme which the UK MOD continues to support.
This visit also builds on the UK-Polish Defence Treaty and the
UK–Poland Defence and Security Strategic Partnership 2030
announced in July this year, which will be of long-term benefit
to the defence, jobs and skills of both nations, strengthening
bi-lateral relations.
The UK and Poland are close Allies, with hundreds of British
troops deployed to the country at any one time. That includes the
recent deployments of Challenger 2 tanks and Sky Sabre air
defence systems to Poland.
