US to give Poland new $4bn loan for arms purchases

The U.S. will give Poland ​a new $4 billion loan from the Foreign Military Financing ‌programme, U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno said on Friday during the inaugural flight of F-35 ​jets bought from the U.S.

DiNanno told PAP news agency ​the U.S. would offer Poland the new loan ⁠for arms purchases, bringing the entire amount available to ​the country to $20 billion.

Poland's first F-35 fighter jets made the ​inaugural flight across the NATO-member state on Friday, as the country became the first on the alliance's eastern flank to possess the ​aircraft amid what it sees as a threat from ​Russia.
Poland ordered 32 of the fifth generation jets in a $4.6 billion deal ‌in ⁠2020. The first three arrived in May, with deliveries scheduled to be completed in 2029.

Polish officials say the F-35s will provide a major boost to the country's defence capabilities. ​As well ​as featuring stealth ⁠technology, they have a range of sensors that collect data for the pilot and ​for other units.

The ceremony was attended by ​Polish President ⁠Karol Nawrocki, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and DiNanno as a representative of the U.S. administration.

"In the armed forces development programme, ⁠we ​have included two additional squadrons of ​5th-generation F-35 aircraft to strengthen the military," Kosiniak-Kamysz said during the ceremony.

-Reuters