A foreign military sales contract has been awarded to Boeing for the supply of 96 AH-64E Apaches to Poland, which will make the European nation the largest non-U.S. operator of the type.
Announced on Nov. 26, 2025, the contract will see the first helicopters delivered to Poland from 2028. The sale was approved in August 2023, and the order signed a year later. Now, the production contract has been awarded by the U.S. Army, who are overseeing the sale as part of the U.S. foreign military sales (FMS) program. FMS deals see the U.S. Government, typically via the branch of the U.S. military that primarily operates the equipment in question, intermediate between foreign customers and U.S. manufacturers. Equipment is first delivered to the U.S. military, then transferred to its intended customer.
Poland has been flying eight AH-64D model Apache helicopters since earlier in 2025 thanks to a loan of airframes from the U.S. Army. Operating these helicopters allows Poland to get a head-start on training and on the integration of the type into the Polish armed forces, as well as take part in joint training exercises with Europe-based U.S. Army Apaches.
On June 17, 2025, the 🇵🇱Armed Forces inducted the first AH-64D #Apache attack helicopters into service. https://t.co/9U8bwX2NCv
— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) June 17, 2025
The AH-64E Apache, also known as the Apache Guardian, is the latest model in the now 50 year old family of attack helicopters. New engines, new avionics, new communications technology, and new rotor blades are all among the upgrades featured on the AH-64E, and the distinctive Longbow fire-control radar above the rotor hub can also be interchanged for other systems including a module designed to facilitate manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).
With 96 Apaches on order, Poland is set to become the largest ever operator of the iconic attack helicopter outside of the United States. They will overtake the British Army, who previously operated 64 licence-built AgustaWestland WAH-64D Apache AH1s, now flying 50 Boeing AH-64Es. Poland is the 19th nation to operate the Apache, and Boeing says there are currently over 1,300 examples of the type in service worldwide.
It’s official! We’ll build 96 AH-64E Apaches for the Polish Armed Forces.
This contract makes Poland the largest #AH64 operator outside of the U.S. With deliveries expected to begin in 2028, @MON_GOV_PL is already training pilots and maintainers.
More: https://t.co/h4TNMKalbj pic.twitter.com/0hDjQOXMJ7
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) December 1, 2025
“This important agreement allows us to begin building one of the largest and most formidable Apache fleets that the world has ever seen,” said Christina Upah, vice president of Boeing’s Attack Helicopter Programs. “Working closely with the Polish Armed Forces, we’re focused on disciplined execution to help enhance Poland’s defense capabilities and keep up with the strong demand for the most advanced attack helicopter.”
Given the large number of aircraft involved, Poland was able to negotiate an offset agreement with Boeing which will allow local industry to play key roles in performing maintenance and long term support for the AH-64E fleet.
A contract with GE Aerospace was finalised in January 2025 to supply 210 T700 engines for Polish AH-64Es. This will cover all planned airframes and leave 18 engines as spares. The engines will be serviced locally in Dęblin under a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) licence that also includes the T700s that power Poland’s S-70i Black Hawks and the similar CT7 engines fitted to the country’s AW101 and AW149 helicopters.
Poland’s Military Modernization
A massive order of Apaches is just one part of a huge push to rejuvenate Poland’s armed forces. With war raging just across the border in Ukraine, Poland is particularly exposed to the threat of Russian aggression, and has even had to contend with Russian weapons and drones violating its airspace throughout the present conflict.
To replace Soviet-era MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’ and Su-22 ‘Fitter’ fighter aircraft, Poland has procured F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters and KAI FA-50 light fighters. A modernization effort is underway for the Polish Air Force’s F-16s which will see them updated to Block 72 standard with a new APG-83 AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar, AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield electronic warfare (EW) suite, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS II), Phased Array Warning System (PAWS-2) infrared missile warning system, and Martin-Baker US18E ejection seat.
Husarz! The first Polish F35A has taken flight out of Lockheed Martin this afternoon. We have AZ-02. pic.twitter.com/SKaHXz31zC
— Tori Mae Fontana (@LensOfMae) December 2, 2024
The Polish Navy’s ageing Oliver Hazard Perry (OHP) class frigates, both of which were originally built for the U.S. Navy in the 1970s, will be replaced in the coming years by at least three new-build variants of the Babcock Arrowhead 140 design – also under construction for the UK as the Type 31 Inspiration class. The frigates will feature 32 Mark 41 vertical launch system (VLS) cells, Naval Strike Missile (NSM) canisters, MU-90 torpedo launchers, and a Leonardo Strales 76mm naval gun.
On the ground are perhaps some of Poland’s most staggering procurements, with the country set to eventually operate three types of main battle tank. Its homegrown PT-91 design will eventually bow out and make way for a joint fleet of Leopard 2, M1A1/M1A2 Abrams, and South Korean K2 Black Panthers. Though exact numbers are yet to be finalized, the framework deal signed with South Korea allows for the purchase of as many as 1,000 Black Panthers. If this full number is ever realised, Poland’s army could boast a force of almost 1,500 main battle tanks.
🇵🇱🇰🇷A farewell to Soviet-era weaponry: Poland and South Korea strike the biggest arms deal in history
This is South Korea’s most expensive weapons export ever. Seoul and Warsaw are finalizing a massive deal worth nearly $6 billion for 180 K2 tanks — some of which will be… pic.twitter.com/pkK1emZbw3
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 10, 2025
Similarly, Poland plans for as many as 1,400 Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), hundreds of K9 Thunder self propelled guns (SPG), and hundreds of HIMARS rocket artillery units.
Poland signed in 2024 for 48 Patriot surface to air missile launchers, and conducted its first live-fire test of the system in September 2025. For shorter range air defence, Poland selected MBDA’s Common Anti-air Modular Missiles (CAMM), which are also set to equip the previously mentioned new frigates. Poland is collaborating with the UK under the UK-Poland 2030 Strategic Partnership framework on the development of CAMM-MR (CAMM Medium Range) which would offer increased range for the area defence role.
