Poland has been selected by US authorities to host a European maintenance center for PAC-3 missiles used in Patriot air defense systems. Valued at approximately one billion zlotys, or 227 million euros, the project was also sought by Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.
Deputy Defense Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said Poland's application received the highest score, although the final decision followed months of negotiations with Washington. Polish and American officials presented the selection as evidence of NATO cohesion. They also emphasized its strategic and industrial significance.
Before the facility can begin operating, Poland must conduct further negotiations with US defense and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said operations would require at least several months to get underway. The center will maintain missiles in serviceable condition, potentially reducing maintenance times, improving readiness and developing domestic defense expertise.
According to the Pentagon, the investment fulfills defense-industrial cooperation commitments made at NATO's July 2026 summit in Ankara under the NATO 3.0 concept. It is intended to bolster regional resilience while enabling European allies to assume greater responsibility for conventional defense. Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden will also participate in integrating key supply-chain elements.
The project comes as Poland expands its air defenses through the Wisła program. Its armed forces received two Patriot batteries, which became operational in December 2025, and ordered around 200 PAC-3 MSE missiles in 2018. The next phase includes six additional batteries and approximately 600 more missiles, with deliveries scheduled for completion by 2029.
