Polish defense minister hails US missiles as the country's most modern weapons to date

Poland's defense minister says long-range missiles the country is purchasing from the U.S. are the most modern military equipment the country has ever purchased and that they are especially needed at this time of tension in the region.

Tomasz Siemoniak spoke Thursday at the signing ceremony for the $250 million deal. It includes the purchase from U.S. aerospace and defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. of 40 joint air-to-surface missiles, which will be integrated into the Polish air force's fleet of F-16 fighter jets.

The U.S. State Department approved the deal in October.

Siemoniak said, "Never in history have we had such modern weapons. He added that "At such a difficult time such modern weaponry is especially needed."

Delivery is to start next year and they should be operational in 2017.