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Poland on Friday finalized an agreement to buy dozens of F-35 fighter jets from the US in a multi-billion dollar deal aimed at revamping its air force and further strengthening close ties with Washington.<\/p>\n
The United States in September approved the $4.6-billion (4.2-million-euro) contract to deliver a total of 32 aircraft to NATO ally Poland.<\/p>\n
The first batch is expected to be delivered within four years and will replace old Soviet models.<\/p>\n
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised Poland\u2019s \u201csmart decision\u201d to buy what he termed the \u201cworld\u2019s most advanced fighter aircraft,\u201d in a Twitter post on Friday, adding this would \u201cfurther our partnership and bolster its (Poland\u2019s) collective & self defence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Poland\u2019s air force already has around 50 US F-16 fighter jets.<\/p>\n
The agreement signed by Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and US ambassador to Warsaw Georgette Mosbacher includes pilot training, flight simulators and logistical support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an important day for Polish military aviation, Poland\u2019s security and also the security of our part of Europe,\u201d Polish President Andrzej Duda said at the ceremony.<\/p>\n
The liberal opposition has slammed the purchase, claiming the fighter jets are too expensive and unsuitable for Poland\u2019s military and critics say the army is not able to make full use of the capabilities of the state-of-the-art aircraft.<\/p>\n
The opposition has also denounced the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government for choosing the F-35 without a call for tenders and for agreeing to a deal without an industrial compensation program.<\/p>\n
Warsaw, which considers Washington its staunchest ally, has been investing in the relationship in the hopes of securing an expanded US troop presence in Poland.<\/p>\n
Last year Poland finalized a deal to buy American mobile rocket launchers worth $414 million, while in 2018 it signed a $4.75 billion contract for a US-made Patriot anti-missile system.<\/p>\n