Substitute for Ukraine aid: Poland gets the first Abrams battle tanks

Poland is one of the biggest supporters of the attacked Ukraine.

Substitute for Ukraine aid: Poland gets the first Abrams battle tanks

Poland is one of the biggest supporters of the attacked Ukraine. This also applies to the delivery of tanks. As compensation, the country is now receiving the first of hundreds of main battle tanks from the USA. But it won't stop there.

Poland has received the first of a total of 366 Abrams main battle tanks from the USA. Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter that 28 used tanks had arrived at a Polish Army training center. The training of the soldiers will begin shortly. "We'll be ready when the first of the 250 brand new tanks we've ordered arrive."

In April, Poland and the USA agreed to buy the new M1A2 Abrams tanks for the equivalent of more than four billion euros, with delivery scheduled to begin in 2023. In addition, the country will receive 116 used Abrams tanks. They are used for training, but also replace older tanks of Soviet design, which Poland passed on to Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, as weapon aid.

Blaszczak announced in Warsaw that Poland will be adding the US Patriot air defense system and Turkish Bayraktar drones to its arsenal later this year. The eastern EU and NATO member sees itself as a close partner of the United States and is also one of Ukraine's most active military and political supporters.