Poland selects Apache as attack helicopter

Poland plans to buy nearly 100 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from Boeing as it continues to bolster its defenses in the face of rising Russian aggression.

Poland selected the Apache to serve as the nation’s new attack helicopter over Bell’s AH-1Z Viper. Poland’s deputy prime minister and minister of national defense tweeted this week that the county had notified the U.S. of its decision to buy 94 Apaches. The order needs to be approved by the State Department before it can become official.

Boeing, which sells Apaches to the U.S. Army, said in a statement that the selection would improve interoperability between Poland and the U.S. The company said it would expand its presence in Poland because of the deal.

“During the procurement process, Boeing established significant cooperative partnerships across Polish government and industry. Our partnership with the Polish Armaments Group in particular will continue to expand as we implement training and sustainment efforts with local industry,” the statement reads.

The deal is the second major acquisition news from Poland in recent weeks. The Army at the end of last month awarded a $1.1 billion contract to General Dynamics to provide 250 Abrams tanks to the NATO ally.

That agreement, too, will bolster interoperability, the Army said. The tank shipment is part of a broader $6 billion arms sale to Poland approved by the State Department in February as Russian forces amassed outside Ukraine before the invasion.