As reported by the Polish media on July 15, 2022, Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak in an interview with the Polish TV channel Polsat News announced that agreements had been reached on the purchase of 116 Abrams tanks (two battalion sets) from the United States for the Polish Army from the availability. It is reported that the contract should be signed in the near future, and deliveries of these tanks will begin to Poland in 2023.
M1A1 FEP Abrams tank from the 4th Tank Battalion of the 4th Reserve Division of the US Marine Corps during a demonstration at Camp Pendleton (California), 09.03.2018 (c) US Marine Corps
Blaszczak did not provide details, but, according to the assumptions of Polish commentators, we may be talking about the purchase of M1A1 FEP tanks from the US Marine Corps, which is currently in the process of reorganization getting rid of tank units with the transfer of all tanks to the US Army (in total, the US Marine Corps had about 220 M1A1 FEP tanks).
Earlier, Polish media speculated about the alleged plan to transfer to Ukraine from the presence of the Polish armed forces all the available 232 RT-91 Twardy tanks (approximately corresponding to the level of the T-72B1 Polish upgraded version of the licensed T-72M1 tank), in return for which the United States allegedly will supply Poland with an additional number of Abrams tanks. It is unclear whether Blashchak's statement is a confirmation of this project, or whether it is a separate purchase from the issue of the transfer of RT-91.
By now, Poland has transferred to Ukraine almost all the available T-72M/M1 tanks - about 260 units.
Recall that in April 2022, an intergovernmental agreement was concluded between the United States and Poland on the acquisition by Poland through the American program of intergovernmental foreign military sales Foreign Military Sales (FMS) 250 M1A2 SEP v.3 Abrams tanks with related equipment and property, including 26 armored M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles, 17 tank M1074 Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) bridge-laying vehicles, as well as training and logistics packages and ammunition. The cost of the agreement is about $4.75 billion (about 20 billion Polish zloty). The first 28 M1A2 SEP v tanks.3 should be transferred to Poland at the end of 2022 from the presence of the US Army and they will be used for the training of Polish personnel, the supply of M1A2 SEP v tanks.3 to the Polish Army proper, according to the agreement, should be completed in 2026.
