Poland has shortlisted five bidders for a contract to build its air defence system as it spends billions to upgrade its military, the defence minister said Wednesday.

The bidders include the French group Thales, the Israeli government, US company Raytheon, the German-Italian-US MEADS consortium and a partnership between the European defence firm MBDA and Poland’s PHO.

Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said the ministry would continue to hold negotiations with the selected five.

Image: Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak (photo: Major Robert Siemaszko/Ministry of Defense of Poland)