WARSAW - Poland signed a contract on Monday to build 48 M903 launchers for the US-designed Patriot air defense systems, said Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.

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According to the deal worth $1.23 billion, the launchers, set to be built at Stalowa Wola steelworks in Poland, are expected to be delivered to the Polish army between 2027 and 2029.

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On Friday, Poland inked a deal with the United States to buy hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.

Last month, the Polish Defense Ministry announced that the United States would lend Poland 2 billion dollars to fund the purchase of American air and missile defense systems.

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Poland has increased its defense spending to around 4 percent of its GDP this year, the highest among NATO countries.