According to Defense News, the requirements were articulated in a letter sent July 15 to the director of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The letter was sent a week after a memorandum was signed by Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz and DSCA Director Vice Adm. Joseph Rixey that set up a two-stage plan on the Patriot deliveries.
The letter reads that Poland wants partial transfer of technology for IBCS and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors and other technologies concerning the active electronically scanned array gallium nitride radar technology production line and SkyCeptor missiles. Poland wants to start domestic production of the missiles, according to the report.
"Failure to meet these provisions will result in the offset offer being rejected, which will then result in terminating the process for the procurement of the Wisla Patriot program," the letter reads.
Oleg Glazunov, a military analyst and associate professor of the sociology and political science department at the Russian Plekhanov Economic University, suggested that Poland is playing a game with the US.
"Warsaw will never give up this deal. Poland doesn’t have its own missile defense systems. Where could they obtain military technology? This is why Poland is trying to lure this technology from the US," Glazunov said in an interview with Radio Sputnik.
However, according to the expert, Washington will not do Warsaw’s bidding.
"The US knows that once the technology is transferred to Poland there is the risk they may emerge somewhere else, for example in the Middle East. So, the requirements of the Polish Defense Ministry are unlikely to be met. Poland will have to buy Patriot without its technology," he pointed out.
"They tried to do the same when they bought French helicopters. Now, Poland wants American technology, citing the need to counter Russia. But this will not work out. The US doesn’t share technology with anyone," the expert concluded.
Poland plans to strike a $7.5 billion deal with the United States to buy eight Patriot batteries. Defense Minister Macierewicz expressed hope to receive the missile systems by 2022 and to see them operational by 2023.
Patriot is a long-range, all-altitude, air defense system capable of countering tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.
