Poland Receives First HIMARS Rocket Launchers to Deploy Near Russian Border

Warsaw received its first shipment of US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and announced plans to deploy the launchers near the country’s shared border with Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave.

In March, the Polish Defense Ministry announced these long-range multiple rocket launchers, which have a range of nearly 200 miles, would be placed within 50 miles of the border with Kaliningrad. Russia’s enclave is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, another NATO member.

According to the Associated Press, the HIMARS will be stationed with the 1st Artillery Brigade in Olsztyn. “This weapon will be deployed in the northeastern part of our country… its task will be to deter the aggressor,” Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told the media at an acquisition ceremony on Monday.