According to a tweet from Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak on June 20, the first batch of 70 units among the 300 Cougar MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles ordered in 2021 has just arrived in Poland. The ex-U.S. Army surplus vehicles will soon be delivered to military units located in eastern Poland.
The plan to acquire GDLS Cougar MRAPs was announced by Minister Błaszczak on November 10, 2021. The relevant agreement, including a logistics and training package, was concluded on December 8, 2021, for an amount of USD 27.5 million. These Cougars come from a surplus of the US Army. Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak added that they will be adapted to national road traffic regulations, and then serviced and adapted to the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces.
MILMAG recalls that 40 units of the Cougar 4×4 were temporarily used by soldiers of the Polish Army on the basis of the ACSA (Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement). On November 18, 2008, the first vehicles were handed over to the soldiers of the 4th rotation of the Polish Military Contingent (PMC) in Afghanistan and, after several days of training, they were sent to Polish bases. At the end of 2008, 30 Cougars were delivered, and the remaining 10 in 2009. The rental of the vehicles was a consequence of the failure of the program to purchase 180 light armored patrol cars from kr. LOSP-5.
