Poland strengthens air force with latest AMRAAM missiles for F-35 jets

Poland’s Minister of Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, signed an agreement with the U.S. government to purchase 200 AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles in the latest AIM-120D version.

According to Polish media, these missiles will be among the armaments used by Poland’s multirole F-35 fighter jets, the first of which are expected to arrive in the country next year.

Speaking about the acquisition, the Minister of Defence emphasised that Poland is joining an elite group of European nations operating this type of missile while simultaneously securing the most advanced version available. “This demonstrates how strong an ally we are and how integrated we are,” he said.

He added, “There is no NATO without the United States and no NATO without Europe, including Poland. Poland is a transatlantic nation — it combines our European relations with our American ties and aligns our responsibilities.”

Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted that contracts like this prove the Polish-American alliance “is not just words, but also decisions — about the ability to purchase equipment and acquire the most modern technology.” 

The Minister also noted that Poland has been acquiring a range of U.S. military systems, including the F-35 jets and the American IBCS air defence command system.

Efforts are also ongoing to increase the U.S. military presence in Poland, currently numbering around 10,000 troops. “The Armed Forces Support Inspectorate has been tasked to be ready for this at any moment,” the Minister said.

“The excellent cooperation between Polish and American armed forces gives us strength and power, and today we can say that we are the strongest U.S. ally in Europe, in NATO,” he added.

The AIM-120 AMRAAM is a medium-range air-to-air missile with a range of up to approximately 180 km. It is one of the primary missiles used by U.S. and NATO air forces, including F-35 fighter jets. In a recent operation, Dutch F-35s armed with AMRAAM missiles participated in intercepting Russian drones that violated Polish airspace on the night of September 9-10.

In April 2025, the U.S. State Department approved Poland’s purchase of 400 AMRAAM missiles for $1.3 billion.

The first Polish F-35s are scheduled to arrive in 2026. The Polish Air Force will receive a total of 32 jets, which, along with F-16 fighters, will form the core of Poland’s combat aviation. The F-35 is the first multirole aircraft in Poland specifically designed to be difficult for adversaries to detect.

Poland already operates AMRAAM missiles in the older C version, which are currently deployed on F-16 fighters.

By Tamilla Hasanova