Poland closer to buying Apache helicopters after offset deals with GE and Boeing

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's defence ministry signed offset deals with Boeing and General Electric worth nearly 1 billion zlotys ($255 million) on Monday, bringing it closer to finalising a $12 billion agreement to buy 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters.

Offset deals are designed to compensate the country buying arms from abroad through cooperation between the supplier and domestic companies.

"The Polish Army is about to acquire these helicopters, which will really strengthen our readiness, our security in the face of what is happening beyond the borders of the Republic of Poland, I mean the war in Ukraine," said deputy defence minister Pawel Bejda.

The offset agreement with Boeing worth 400 million zlotys ($102 million) will cover maintenance support for the helicopters and AH-64E maintenance training.

The deal with General Electric worth 530 million zlotys ($135 million) will focus on engine support for the Apaches and for power units in other Polish military helicopters.

The agreements are part of Poland's offset strategy related to the purchase of Apache helicopters, dating from September 2022 when it announced plans to buy 96 of the aircraft.

In August 2023 the U.S. approved the sale of 96 AH-64E Apaches and related equipment to Poland for about $12 billion.

Later that year, Poland secured its first offset agreements with Lockheed Martin, enabling domestic firms to service and repair radars and missile guidance systems in the AH-64E.

(Reporting by Barbara Erling; editing by Giles Elgood)