US Department of State nods to Apache helicopter sales to Poland

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of AH-64E Apache helicopters and related equipment to Poland in a deal valued at up to $12 billion, the Pentagon said on August 21.

NATO-member Poland has requested 96 of the Apache attack helicopters and related equipment, including 1,844 Hellfire missiles and 508 Stinger missiles, the Pentagon said, according to Reuters.

Poland has made boosting its military a priority following Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the US Congress of the possible sale on August 21.

Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.

The Pentagon said Boeing and Lockheed Martin are the prime contractors for the weapons.