Poland to finalize major weapons deal with Israel

Published June 12th, 2003 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Poland is on the verge of finalizing a weapons deal with Israel valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, a top Polish defense official said Wednesday.  

 

The deal, whereby Warsaw would purchase thousands of anti-tank "Spike" missiles from Raphael, in the framework of the Polish army's ongoing modernization of its forces has been approved, with negotiations now underway regarding its financing, Polish Undersecretary of State for Defense Policy Andrzej Towpik told The Jerusalem Post.  

 

"We have chosen the missiles from Raphael as the best offer, and now negotiations are going on regarding the details of the contract," Towpik said.  

 

He cited the emerging deal with Israel as one of Poland's three major military upgrades in the last decade, which include the purchase of F-16's from the US and armored transport carriers from Finland.  

 

"This agreement is the largest successful deal between the two countries since the establishment of relations over a decade ago," said Israel's Ambassador to Poland Shevach Weiss, who together with Israel's military attache in Poland played a large role in its realization, the daily said. 

 

The emerging deal would initially be worth $300 million, defense officials said. (Albawaba.com) 

© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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