Northern Group Partners Meet In Warsaw To Discuss European Security

22nd May 2023

Key threats and challenges to European security was the focus of meeting of ministers from 12 European countries today (22 May 2023).

Ministers and representatives from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK met in Warsaw, Poland today for the Northern Group Ministers meeting.

Currently chaired by Poland, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace attended the meeting hosted by Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak in in Legionowo, near Warsaw.

The threats and challenges to European security were discussed during the meeting. All partners agreed that Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine has seriously changed the security environment and that Russia's aggressive posture constitutes a direct threat to the security, stability and the prosperity of the Euro-Atlantic area.

Northern Group members share a common view that providing further military assistance to Ukraine to support its defence against Russia's brutal aggression is crucial.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said "Defence partnerships like the Northern Group are vital to tackle shared threats. As likeminded nations we are determined to continue our support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, for as long as it takes.

It was a pleasure to meet again with my friend and close defence partner Mariusz Błaszczak. For over 150 years we have enjoyed a close defence alliance with Poland and our ongoing cooperation is supporting security and stability across Europe.

NATO Vilnius Summit was also discussed during the meeting, including the implementation of decisions agreed during the Madrid Summit in 2022. Northern Group members agreed that the Vilnius Summit should enhance regional security by further strengthening of Allied deterrence and defence posture.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Mariusz Błaszczak during the meeting. It is less than a month since Ben Wallace was last in Poland, invited as a guest to the Bucharest 9 meeting. Prior to that the Ministers met in October 2022 where they signed an Air Defence Complex Weapons Memorandum of Understanding MOU and the Arrowhead-140 Statement of Intent.

The Air Defence MOU enables the UK and Poland to cooperate in the development and manufacture of current and future complex weapons, further strengthening the relationship built through the Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty (2017) and deepening the interoperability of our Armed Forces. The Arrowhead-140 Statement of Intent provides a framework for our governments to collaborate on the procurement and operation of three Arrowhead-140 frigates. The Polish Frigates will be a variant of the Arrowhead-140.

At the end of April, a major £1.9 billion export agreement was signed by the UK and Poland. The contract with UK firm MBDA for a British-designed air defence system is a major boost for Euro-Atlantic security and will support hundreds of highly skilled jobs across the UK.

It is one of the largest deals of its kind in NATO and will see the UK equip 22 Polish air defence batteries with sophisticated UK Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles (CAMMs) and launchers.

These announcements are just the latest recent collaboration between our two countries aimed at helping Poland bolster its armed forces to deter aggression, and are in addition to the UK's deployment of the Sky Sabre air defence system to Poland.

Record £1.9 billion UK-Poland missile export deal set to bolster European security

The UK and Poland have signed a major £1.9 billion export agreement to roll out a British air defence system across the European nation.

Prime Minister hails landmark deal between UK firm MBDA and Poland as major boost for Euro-Atlantic security.

£1.9 billion contract for British-designed air defence system will support hundreds of highly skilled jobs across the UK.

Deal will provide cutting-edge, long-term air defence capability to key NATO ally.

The UK and Poland have signed a major £1.9 billion export agreement to roll out a British air defence system across the European nation.

UK firm MBDA will complete the landmark deal with the Polish government on Friday 28 April 2023, agreeing to provide Poland with cutting-edge, ground-based-air-defence capabilities that will protect the country for generations to come.

The export win will also support hundreds of jobs across the UK, delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, and deepening ties with our key European ally.

The deal is one of the largest bilateral European air defence deals of its kind in NATO and is the culmination of months of close collaboration between the UK and Poland.

It will see the UK equip 22 Polish air defence batteries with UK Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles (CAMMs) and launchers, under a programme called PILICA+.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, "We have played a crucial role in boosting Euro-Atlantic defences since Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, and this landmark agreement between the UK and Poland is another example of how, alongside our allies, we are committed to protecting our security for generations to come.

As well as bolstering European air defences, this £1.9bn deal will also support highly skilled jobs in both countries, delivering on my pledge to grow the economy, and creating better paid jobs and opportunity right across the UK.

The sophisticated missiles can be deployed to protect high value, mobile assets such as deployed military forces or critical national infrastructure.

MBDA’s British-designed CAMM is the latest generation air defence system in service with both the British Army and Royal Navy. It is already deployed to Poland with the British Army to protect its airspace following Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

The system can engage advanced air and missile targets up to 25km away and is capable of hitting a tennis ball-sized object travelling beyond the speed of sound.

The missile deal, which will support more than 500 jobs at MBDA UK, is the latest in a string of defence deals with Poland, including an agreement to collaborate on the procurement and operation of three Arrowhead-140 frigates - a variant of the UK warship, and an agreement to work closely on Air Defence Complex Weapons last year, including an order for the urgent delivery of an initial set of CAMM systems.

Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said, "I am delighted that the UK and Poland’s deep and historic defence ties take another step forward with the signing of the largest ever UK defence export deal with Poland.

We are committed to supporting Poland’s defence modernisation plans and this upgraded air-defence programme will ensure that Poland and the UK have the ability to continue safeguarding our people and bolstering NATO security.

Managing Director of MBDA UK, Chris Allam said, "We are deeply proud that Poland is placing CAMM at the core of their layered air defence systems. This landmark Polish-UK cooperation will provide a major boost to Poland’s air defence capabilities and bring our defence industries closer together, enabling sovereignty and supporting jobs in both countries.

The UK and Poland are close Allies, with hundreds of British troops deployed to the country at any one time. That includes the recent deployments of Challenger 2 tanks and Sky Sabre air defence systems to Poland.