Poland gets 1st U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launchers amid concerns over war in Ukraine
Poland has received its first shipment of U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launchers as part of a defense upgrade amid security concerns due to the war in neighboring Ukraine WARSAW, Poland -- Poland has received its first shipment of U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launchers as part of a defense upgrade amid security concerns due to the war in neighboring Ukraine. Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and military officials attended an acquisition ceremony at a Warsaw air base on Monday. Blaszczak said that combat in Ukraine had proven the value of the HIMARS and that NATO member Poland was seeking to procure additional launchers, with a goal of acquiring some 500 units. “We are watching the developments in Ukraine, and we know that artillery has a key role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion," he said. Under a 2019 contract, Poland is spending some $414 million (380 million euros) to buy 18 advanced combat HIMARS launcher s and two HIMARS training launcher s, with ammunition and related e...