In a major boost to its military arsenal, Poland has secured a massive $3.08 billion loan from the United States to purchase American-made weapons, further solidifying the defense ties between the two nations. This latest loan, approved under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, brings Poland’s total borrowing from the US to an eye-popping $7.08 billion in just a year.
The newest installment of the FMF loan will be directed towards procuring AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from Boeing, marking another major step in Poland’s rapid military buildup. This comes just months after Poland signed a $10 billion deal to purchase 96 of the advanced Apache helicopters, with deliveries slated between 2028 and 2032.
Poland’s defense spending spree shows no signs of slowing. Prior to this, the US had approved two additional loans—each worth $2 billion—in September 2023 and July 2024, as part of a broader effort to strengthen Poland’s military capabilities amid growing security concerns in Europe. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Warsaw has aggressively ramped up its defense acquisitions, purchasing tens of billions of dollars worth of US-made defense platforms, including F-35 fighter jets, Patriot air defense systems, and Abrams main battle tanks.
The FMF program, a mechanism reserved for Washington’s most critical security partners, ensures that funds are directed exclusively towards purchasing American-made military equipment, further enhancing US-Polish defense cooperation. As Poland continues to modernize its military, its heavy reliance on US weaponry underscores its pivotal role in NATO’s Eastern flank.
Poland’s defense deals have contributed significantly to the US’s record-breaking foreign military sales (FMS) in fiscal year 2023, which soared to $80.9 billion—a staggering 55.9% increase from the previous year. Of that, $62.25 billion was funded by US allies and partner nations, reflecting growing demand for American military hardware in an increasingly volatile global security environment.
As tensions remain high in Eastern Europe, Poland’s deepening military ties with the US highlight a broader shift in global defense dynamics, where nations are rapidly arming themselves to counter emerging threats. This latest deal signals that Poland is preparing for any scenario, strengthening its military might while ensuring continued cooperation with the United States.
