The Polish Army received its first two AW149 helicopters yesterday during a ceremony held at the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade base in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, where they are entering service just fifteen months after signing the contract.
The configuration of these new Polish military helicopters, fully compliant with the requirements defined by the Polish Armed Forces, allows, among others, combat support missions. This configuration includes, among the various systems and equipment envisaged, observation systems, light armament, guided/unguided rockets and missiles, self-protection systems. The armament, depending on the variant and configuration of the helicopter, can be installed in the cabin or as an external load.
Delivery follows contract announced on July 2022, XNUMX and including logistics support, training and simulation packages. The logistics package includes spare parts and equipment for ground management of the helicopters. The training and simulation package includes complete services for pilots and maintenance technicians and the delivery of advanced simulators and dedicated systems.
The program of the Polish Ministry of Defense is based on localization of production through PZL-Świdnik, which operates as prime contractor also taking care of the integration of the helicopter systems and the planned armament. Thanks to the localization of production, Poland obtains not only state-of-the-art helicopters but also the relevant national logistics capabilities and technical infrastructure close to the Polish Army. This delivery highlights once again, after decades, the responsiveness of PZL-Świdnik as a program manager and industrial partner of the Polish Armed Forces. PZLŚwidnik, a Polish company wholly owned by Leonardo, will also provide support services for these helicopters and modernize them in line with the operator's future needs.
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo's Helicopters DivisionSaid: “The AW149 represents a formidable leap forward for the modern armed forces in terms of real multimission capabilities, the possibility of further growth of its operational capabilities over time, efficient fleet management and rapid response to emergency situations. The localization of industrial and logistical capabilities for these new helicopters, in order to meet the needs of Poland, is also the result of PZL-Świdnik's historical and unique expertise. All this, together with the company's professional resources and the unrivaled operational capabilities of the AW149, will translate into extraordinary benefits for the country".
Jacek Libucha, President of PZL-Świdnik, ha detto: “Thanks to its comprehensive design, development, customization and service provision capabilities in the helicopter field, PZL-Świdnik confirms its leadership, in continuity with 70 years of history during which it has achieved important goals for the Polish industry. Having served in the military in the country and abroad, today I feel an even stronger sense of fulfillment of duty at the helm of PZL-Świdnik. I am convinced that the AW149 will meet the highest expectations of the Polish Armed Forces by providing them with the best combat support capabilities, exactly what this platform was designed for”.
