Poland has received the first batch of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as HIMARS, to deploy near the Russian border, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced Monday.

“Today we are accepting HIMARS to the Polish Army. [An] equipment that has proven itself in combat in the hands of the Ukrainians, stopping the Russian invasion," Błaszczak said.

"This weapon will go to the northeastern part of our country, to the 16th Mechanized Division. Its task will be to deter the aggressor, strengthen the Polish Army on the eastern flank of Poland and the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance," Błaszczak added.The HIMARS, a truck-mounted system that can fire missiles as far as 300 kilometers or 186 miles, carries a preloaded pod of six 227mm guided missiles, or one pod loaded with a tactical missile.

The delivery of the first pieces of the M142 HIMARS launchers is the result of an agreement from February 2019 regarding the acquisition of the first squadron fire module of HIMARS multiple rocket launchers in the "American configuration," Poland's Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

"We are negotiating another deal on the HIMARS. The US Congress approved the sale of almost 500 launchers to Poland," Błaszczak said, adding: "We want to ensure that under this new contract, currently being negotiated, the co-production of Himarses, both launchers and missiles, takes place in Poland."

The deliveries currently being carried out are the first step in equipping the Polish Armed Forces with systems of multiple rocket launchers capable of hitting targets at the operational level, i.e. several hundred kilometers, the Ministry said Monday in a press release.

"We are watching what is happening in Ukraine. Artillery plays a key role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion. So the ability to strike at a long distance is undoubtedly important for the strength of the Polish Army. Hence our efforts related to increasing these capabilities within the Polish Army," Błaszczak said.

Some context: Poland is a key NATO ally currently housing thousands of American troops that also serves as a hub for Western weapons transfers to Ukraine. US service members are also training Ukrainian troops there.