NATO Procurement Agency Authorizes Raytheon to Supply Poland With Patriot GEM-T Missiles

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded a new contract to US-based Raytheon, an RTX business, to supply Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) interceptors intended to strengthen Poland’s air defense capability. The award was announced on July 7, 2026.

The GEM-T is one of the current variants fielded within the Patriot air defense family, distinguished by an upgraded fragmentation warhead, improved guidance electronics, a proximity fuze and enhanced seeker performance. Unlike PAC-3 hit-to-kill interceptors, the GEM-T carries a larger airframe and provides broader defensive coverage against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, helicopters and some unmanned aerial systems.

Poland is running one of Europe’s largest Patriot modernization efforts through its Wisła air defense program. Bordering both Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, the country is regarded as one of NATO’s key logistics hubs in Eastern Europe.

The NSPA contract falls under a multinational procurement framework known as the Patriot Support Partnership, which includes Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The arrangement allows member nations to replenish their Patriot missile stocks through a shared contracting mechanism rather than negotiating individually.

Raytheon officials said GEM-T production will continue at current capacity, with manufacturing lines being expanded to meet rising demand across Europe. The company noted that growing Patriot missile deliveries to Ukraine in recent years have turned GEM-T output into a significant growth segment of its business.

Poland’s air defense modernization is part of a broader acceleration across NATO’s eastern flank since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Warsaw is seeking to reinforce both short- and long-range air defense layers, with Patriot batteries forming the top tier of that architecture.

Analysts note that joint procurement arrangements run through NATO channels tend to produce faster and more cost-effective outcomes than individual national negotiations. NSPA’s role as an intermediary can be particularly valuable in accelerating deliveries during periods of urgent operational need.

The total value of the contract was not disclosed, though comparable GEM-T agreements in the past have run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Deliveries are expected to be phased in over the coming years.

Sources: NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) announcement, July 7, 2026; Raytheon/RTX press statement.