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Click here to learn more. has shown strong commitment to Poland through strategic partnerships and investments to the country’s defence capabilities further confirmed with the latest key milestone achieved the Polish company fully-owned by Leonardo celebrated the opening of the production line for the AW149 helicopters of the Polish Armed Forces and launch of the new localised manufacturing activities fulfilling its commitment to the new helicopter programme The company’s dedication to technology transfer and local production has contributed to growth in the country’s skills base and this has enabled new technologies to be delivered quickly to the customer ensuring the Polish Armed Forces are equipped to meet challenges in the battlespace with the latest-generation multirole AW149 military helicopter The official opening ceremony took place in the presence of representatives and dignitaries from national and local institutions This achievement marks a new technological era for both PZL-Świdnik plants along with the national supply chain and military service PZL-Świdnik leverages unique industrial advantages in terms of speed of deliveries and flexibility to meet challenging deadlines and emergency requirements considering the geopolitical scenario The very first AW149s were produced in Vergiate (Italy) where Polish workers took on-job training and secured timely deliveries within a tight time schedule handing over helicopters 15 months since contract signing The majority of the Polish Armed Forces’ AW149 will be produced in Poland The Polish MoD’s AW149 programme is based on localised production through PZL-Świdnik which is a strategic decision of Poland to secure both national security and key industrial benefits The contract for 32 AW149s was signed in Świdnik in 2022 and also covers the integration of the helicopter’s systems future modernisations and technical support through the entire life cycle of the Polish AW149 fleet Thanks to local production Poland gains a domestic logistics base and technical facilities located close to the Polish Land Forces in addition to state-of-the-art helicopters said: “PZL-Świdnik is an example of the highest level of excellence within our organisation obtaining very good results in all areas and has great potential for further development there are growing requirements for our company based in Świdnik to continue to evolve from a manufacturer to a key market player that manages complex contracts and deliveries The Polish MoD programme of AW149 is a clear example of this today “The localisation of industrial and logistical capabilities for these new helicopters to meet Poland’s needs leverage the long established and unique capabilities of PZL-Świdnik and its professional skills combined with the outstanding operational capabilities of the AW149s will deliver unparalleled advantages to the country.” President of PZL-Świdnik said: “The past year was a period of multi-million investments specifically in the building where full production of the AW149 is now located we start new era for Świdnik plants – this was clear to me from very beginning when I was appointed CEO of PZL-Świdnik – we have needed a new most modern helicopter production line to develop our expertise which must come with state-of-the-art technology transfer This also meets the Armed Forces’ high-end needs and those helicopters will provide them the best-in-class combat support This is what the platform has been designed for.” The new production line is an accelerator of change as it was when PZL-Świdnik became a centre of excellence for helicopter aerostructure and contributed to the launch of the AW139 programme several years ago the revenues of PZL-Świdnik have more than quadrupled generating greater export sales and an expanding technological and product base The Świdnik based business has grown significantly over the year leveraging technological and capability investments guaranteed by Leonardo to become a solid player in the competitive market at PZL-Świdnik a total of 3,240 employees (20% of which are engineers) are devoted to serve its customers while Polish Military is recognised as a strategic one and the highest level (level-1) test pilots meet current and future needs of the Polish Army and other customers These pilots performed a dynamic display of the AW149 during today’s ceremony This press release was prepared and distributed by Leonardo and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Bell 525 Walkaround: The First Commercial Fly-by-Wire Helicopter Bell 505 Contact seller for price Year: 2022 Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible Have a story idea you would like to suggest The DEFEA defence trade fair will take place in Athens from 6 to 8 May2025 Rheinmetall will be there as a strong partner for… a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative 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protection—including armor specifically designed… Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for… a member of the Polish Armaments Group has introduced the semi-automatic designated marksman rifle MSBS Grot .308 S20… To assist with shooting training and beyond various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs where every second can determine the outcome of an operation The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024 An increasing number of Poles now hold… The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of… ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics The innovative features and ergonomic designs… Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles The Vanguard is a uniform set from the Polish brand Direct Action designed in collaboration with special forces soldiers The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world PZL-Świdnik has announced the maiden flight of the first AW149 multirole support helicopter assembled in Poland the first domestically produced AW149 multirole support helicopter performed a test flight as part of the Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) intended to verify the helicopter’s compliance with its design configuration Further flight tests will be conducted in accordance with standard procedures and the established schedule The rotorcraft was first spotted during test preparations on February 26 of this year Photos: Polish Armaments Agency / Ministry of National Defence modern and resulting from the implementation of cutting-edge 21st-century technologies and design techniques is the most highly anticipated development at PZL-Świdnik and within the Polish aerospace cluster The contract for 32 multirole helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces was signed in Świdnik on July 1 the first helicopter rolled off the final assembly line — at that time in Leonardo’s facilities in Vergiate Italy — to meet urgent needs and fulfill the contract provisions amid a challenging geopolitical situation That moment also marked the beginning of training for Polish PZL-Świdnik employees in specific job roles at Leonardo from the very first helicopter destined for the Polish military PZL-Świdnik’s domestic workforce was involved in its production the contract for AW149 deliveries to the Polish military included full production of the helicopters in Poland along with the transfer of technology and the establishment of production “The execution of the AW149 contract for the Polish Armed Forces is an excellent example of the outstanding work carried out jointly by Italian and Polish teams The combination of these factors enabled the Polish military to begin training on this helicopter type according to schedule The results of this collaboration encourage us to consider how we could best meet future helicopter program needs for the Polish Armed Forces — possibly through similar initiatives,” said Gian Piero Cutillo marks an extremely important date and another strategic milestone for our plant The introduction of a new helicopter type produced at PZL-Świdnik is a long-anticipated and carefully planned event as we flight-test the most advanced helicopter in its weight category in the world we all have reason to take great pride in our work for the Polish Armed Forces Ahead of us are more units to be produced depending on the military’s evolving needs possibly upgraded and integrated with new systems We already possess full capabilities for all of these tasks,” said Jacek Libucha The AW149 Final Assembly Line (FAL) and the Flight Line (FL) — used for testing and flight checks — were officially inaugurated on June 5 the facility is capable of assembling up to 10 AW149 helicopters per year This capacity is intended to ensure the delivery of 32 rotorcraft by the end of 2029 while also allowing for the handling of additional orders if necessary The final assembly process is divided into three stages the helicopter is fitted with electrical wiring The final stage of helicopter production takes place on the Flight Line (FL) where the rotorcraft undergo final inspections in the presence of then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak a contract worth 8.25 billion PLN gross was signed between the State Treasury — represented by the Armaments Agency — and the PZL-Świdnik Aircraft Factory (part of Leonardo Helicopters) for the delivery of 32 AW149 multirole support helicopters for Army Aviation with deliveries scheduled between 2023 and 2029 The contract also includes logistical and training-simulator packages The logistics package consists of a stock of spare and consumable parts as well as equipment for ground support of the helicopters The training and simulator package includes comprehensive training for pilots and technical personnel along with the delivery of a set of advanced simulators and training equipment The AW149 is a multirole military helicopter capable of performing flights under both VFR (Visual Flight Rules) and IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) with the option to increase it to 8,600 kg The helicopter has a maximum speed of 313 km/h and a cruising speed of 287 km/h although basic missions can be carried out by a single pilot and maximum flight endurance is 4 hours and 55 minutes The AW149 can carry up to 19 passengers configured to meet the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces the armament can be installed either inside the cabin or mounted on the helicopter’s external hardpoints the Armaments Agency signed a contract worth approximately 150 million USD (633 million PLN) for the delivery of 800 AGM-114R2 Hellfire II air-to-ground anti-tank guided missiles to equip these helicopters The rotorcraft are powered by General Electric CT7-2E1 turboshaft engines rated at 2,000 horsepower The helicopters will replace the W-3 Sokół in the 7th Aviation Squadron of the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade By 2024-06-04T18:01:00+01:00 the Polish subsidiary of Leonardo Helicopters has opened a new production line that will build AW149 battlefield transports for the Polish Land Forces Warsaw in 2022 ordered 32 of the super-medium-twin helicopters with the agreement specifying technology transfer and local production Warsaw will field a total of 32 armed AW149s by 2029 An initial batch of five AW149s will be delivered from Leonardo Helicopters’ main final assembly facility in Vergiate Engineers from PZL Swidnik were seconded to the Italian site to gain training on the type to enable domestic assembly of the remaining examples Poland is spending €1.7 billion ($1.85 billion) on the acquisition PZL Swidnik will also integrate country-specific systems and armaments – including guided and unguided rockets and missiles – plus will carry out future modernisation work and lifecycle support “The past year was a period of multi-million investments specifically in the building where full production of the AW149 is now located,” says Jacek Libucha Leonardo Helicopters is also pitching the AW149 to the UK for its New Medium Helicopter requirement If selected it would build the type at its plant in Yeovil This article has been edited to correct a figure in the third paragraph New Delhi looks poised for a major expansion of its attack helicopter capabilities issuing a large request for proposal for the Hindustan Aeronautics Light Combat Helicopter The US government has cleared the potential sale of air-to-air missiles to Denmark and spare parts for the Lockheed Martin F-16 to Taiwan The California company Stratolaunch is pioneering the development of a reusable flight vehicle capable of reaching speeds beyond Mach 5 Wellington has allocated funds for the replacement of its Kaman Aerospace SH-2G(I) Seasprite naval helicopters The New Zealand government has earmarked NZ$2 billion ($1.2 billion) for the helicopter replacement programme as part of broader NZ$12 billion in funding to upgrade the defence force over the next four years Iraq has taken delivery of an initial pair of Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracals dating from a September 2024 order for a dozen units of the heavy-twin Procurement of a new battlefield transport through the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme continues to progress with sole bidder Leonardo Helicopters having recently submitted its best and final offer to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) FlightGlobal is the global aviation community’s primary source of news analytics and advisory services to connect the aviation community globally and help organisations shape their business strategies identify new opportunities and make better decisions faster Site powered by Webvision Cloud member-first insights and commentary on the global aviation industry If you have questions regarding your subscription of European Security & Defence contact our subscriber service: along with its Polish subsidiary PZL-Świdnik has celebrated the inauguration of a new production line for AW149 helicopters This development marks a significant step in bolstering the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces and underscores Leonardo's commitment to fostering local industry and technological advancement is designed to meet the specific needs of the Polish military highlighted the collaborative efforts between Leonardo and Poland’s Ministry of National Defence The initiative is part of a broader strategic partnership aimed at enhancing Poland’s defence infrastructure and self-reliance is not just about manufacturing helicopters It encompasses a comprehensive package that includes logistics This holistic approach ensures that the Polish Armed Forces are fully equipped and trained to operate the new helicopters effectively The AW149 helicopters will serve as a multi-role platform capable of performing a wide range of missions from troop transport to search and rescue operations One of the standout features of this project is the emphasis on local production and technology transfer The new production line at PZL-Świdnik is expected to create numerous job opportunities and contribute to the local economy It also aims to enhance the skills and expertise of the local workforce through advanced training programs The first helicopters from this production line are set to be delivered just 15 months after the contract signing demonstrating Leonardo’s efficiency and commitment to timely delivery This rapid turnaround is crucial for the Polish Armed Forces which are looking to modernize their fleet and enhance their operational readiness Cookie Policy Copyright © 2025 Defence Industry Europe | mady by: geekon.eu We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns The new rotorcraft will be used to carry troops and conduct air support missions The Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract to PZL-Świdnik The contract has an estimated value of zl8.25bn ($1.83bn) The deal was made during a ceremony at PZL-Świdnik’s facility attended by various Polish Government officials the company will also provide logistics support including a stock of spares and consumable parts the deal involves a training and simulator package including comprehensive pilots and technical personnel training and delivery of several advanced simulators and training equipment PZL-Świdnik president Jacek Libucha said: “With complete capabilities in helicopter design PZL-Świdnik confirms its leadership and continuation of its 70-year heritage through the setting of key milestones for our aviation industry Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis “I am convinced that AW149 will meet the Armed Forces’ high-end needs.” Deliveries of the helicopters are expected to take place between 2023 and 2029 The new helicopters will be operated by the Polish Armed Forces to carry out air support and troop transport missions The AW149 can also be used for transporting goods and supplies Configured to fulfil the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces, the AW149 helicopter will include small arms Other armaments can also be installed in the helicopter’s cabin or external hardpoints depending on the variant and configuration PZL-Świdnik will be responsible to host a local production line for the new helicopters for which Leonardo is planning to provide further investments the company has already invested around $1.043bn (€1bn) in its Polish facility Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Jan 7, 2023 | Politics, Society was among the first of many in Poland to adopt a resolution declaring itself “free from LGBT ideology” has now replaced the document with one expressing opposition to discrimination The decision by councillors in Świdnik, a town of 40,000 in eastern Poland, came amid fears that it could lose millions of euros in European funds due to its anti-LGBT declaration EU funds for Polish anti-LGBT regions “put on hold” The initial resolution adopted by Świdnik council in March 2019 pledged to “stop LGBT ideology” and fight “homopropaganda”. It was passed with the votes of councillors linked to Poland’s nationally ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, which has led a long-running anti-LGBT campaign Polish region loses millions in Norway grants due to anti-LGBT resolution in November 2021 Świdnik’s council amended the resolution to remove explicit mention of “LGBT ideology” with EU funds for the town still under threat at the end of December 2022 the council unanimously approved a new declaration “on the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms” The document declares that “the dignity of every human being is an inalienable value subject to special protection” It expresses “opposition to all forms of discrimination based on sex The newly adopted text replaces the previous ones adopted in 2019 and 2021 The newspaper added that councillors had privately said that the aim of the change was to ensure access to European funds Three more Polish regions abandon anti-LGBT resolutions amid EU funding threat “Pecunia non olet – money does not stink – as the ancient Romans used to say,” said Mariusz Wilk head of the opposition bloc on the council this is the only reason that [this change] prevailed.” from the ruling majority on the council linked to PiS-backed mayor Waldemar Jakson says that the new declaration reflects both “values ​​such as tolerance and respect for minority rights but also those related to family and parenthood” Activists mapping Poland’s anti-LGBT zones win in court against county that sued over “Atlas of Hate” Main image credit: Jakub Orzechowski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications , , Karol Nawrocki even suggested that the state security services were involved in creating the scandal , , The 1,200 square metre national symbol was unfurled on the beach in Międzyzdroje , , The proportion of Poles saying the US has a positive influence on the world has also fallen to its lowest recorded level Apr 30, 2025 | , , , That response will include “large Polish and NATO exercises in Poland” Apr 29, 2025 | , , , Those employed in Poland work on average the third-longest hours in the European Union Apr 28, 2025 | , , , , Westinghouse and Bechtel were first chosen in 2022 as partners on the 192 billion zloty ($51 billion) project please consider helping us to continue and expand it [email protected] Copyright © 2025 Notes From Poland | Design jurko studio | Code by 2sides.pl Senior Research Fellow at the Global Europe Centre ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Weronika Strzyżyńska is currently studying journalism at Goldsmiths as a Scott Trust Bursary recipient She  has written on issues immigration and Brexit for New Statesman and Prospect Agnieszka Wądołowska is managing editor of Notes from Poland She has previously worked for Gazeta.pl and Tokfm.pl and contributed to Gazeta Wyborcza ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland and assistant professor of history at the Pedagogical University of Krakow The Independent and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Stanley Bill is the founder and editor-at-large of Notes from Poland.He is also Senior Lecturer in Polish Studies and Director of the Polish Studies Programme at the University of Cambridge Stanley has spent more than ten years living in Poland He founded Notes from Poland in 2014 as a blog dedicated to personal impressions cultural analysis and political commentary He is committed to the promotion of deeper knowledge and understanding of Poland He is the Chair of the Board of the Notes from Poland Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Professor of European Studies at Oxford University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Professor at the Institute of History of the Jagiellonian University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Executive Director of Taube Family Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Science ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR At the headquarters of WSK PZL-Świdnik (part of Leonardo Helicopters) the first AW149 multirole support helicopter assembled in Poland at the headquarters of Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego PZL-Świdnik (part of Leonardo Helicopters) the first AW149 multirole support helicopter assembled in Poland the first three of the 32 contracted units were assembled at Leonardo’s Italian facilities in Varese-Venegono The mentioned AW149 helicopter during assembly last year / Photos: Jakub Link-Lenczowski The helicopter was photographed by aviation spotter Mr. Wiktor Sawicki who posted the picture on his profile on the social media platform X Pierwszy AW149 z linii montażowej w Świdniku 🇵🇱❗️ Fotografia z wczoraj (26.02), EPSW pic.twitter.com/kabgTea1IZ — Wiktor Sawicki (@Wiktrsaw) February 27, 2025 The editorial team of the MILMAG portal obtained a statement on the matter from WSK PZL-Świdnik: “PZL-Świdnik officially announced the opening of the final assembly line for AW149 multirole helicopters in June 2024 is already in the Flight Line testing phase The work is proceeding according to schedule and additional AW149 helicopters are in production on the domestic final assembly line This crucial aspect for the military—local helicopter production—is a key factor in strengthening national resilience After the scheduled helicopter tests are completed we will provide further information.” The final assembly line (FAL) for the AW149 the facility is expected to have the capacity to assemble up to 10 AW149 helicopters per year ensuring the delivery of 32 rotorcraft by the end of 2029 as per the contract while also being capable of handling additional orders if needed the helicopter is equipped with electrical wiring The final phase of helicopter production takes place at the Flight Line (FL) where the aircraft undergo final inspections a contract worth 8.25 billion PLN gross was signed between the State Treasury – Armament Agency and Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego PZL-Świdnik (part of Leonardo Helicopters) for the delivery of 32 AW149 multirole support helicopters for the Land Forces Aviation The signing ceremony was attended by the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense The contract also includes logistics and training-simulator packages The logistics package consists of a stock of spare and consumable parts as well as ground support equipment for helicopter maintenance The training-simulator package includes comprehensive training for pilots and technical personnel The AW149 helicopter is a multirole military helicopter capable of conducting flights under VFR/IFR (Visual Flight Rules/Instrument Flight Rules) conditions as well as in NVC (Night Vision Conditions) with the possibility of increasing it to 8,600 kg The helicopter has a maximum speed of 313 km/h and a cruise speed of 287 km/h with a maximum flight endurance of 4 hours and 55 minutes The AW149 can carry up to 19 passengers on board configured to meet the needs of the Polish Armed Forces the weaponry can be installed either inside the cabin or on the helicopter’s external hardpoints the Armament Agency signed a contract worth approximately 150 million USD (633 million PLN) for the delivery of 800 AGM-114R2 Hellfire II air-to-ground anti-tank guided missiles for these helicopters The rotorcraft are equipped with General Electric CT7-2E1 turboshaft engines under a contract signed with the American company GE Aviation on October 17 the Polish company fully owned by Leonardo has been awarded a contract by the Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) worth 8.25 billion PLN gross (approximately EUR 1.76 billion) for the supply of 32 AW149 multirole helicopters The contract was announced today during an official ceremony held at PZL-Swidnik’s facility today in the presence of representatives of the Polish Government The logistics package includes a stock of spares and consumable parts as well as equipment for the ground handling of the helicopters The training and simulator package includes comprehensive training of pilots and technical personnel and the delivery of a set of advanced simulators and training equipment The new helicopters will carry out missions including troop transport and air support The equipment of the helicopters will also allow them to be used for casualty evacuation search and rescue in combat operations and for the transport of goods and supplies fully meeting the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces guided/unguided rockets and missiles and self-defence systems depending on the helicopter variant and configuration can be installed in the cabin or on the helicopter's external hard points The deliveries of the helicopters will be made in the 2023-2029 period PZL-Swidnik will host a local production line for these new helicopters Leonardo will therefore undertake further investments in its Polish facility in addition to approximately 1 billion EUR already invested since 2010 which has significantly strengthened the competitiveness and the industrial capabilities of PZL-Swidnik This provides an important contribution to the Polish aerospace and defence industry the establishment of a logistic base and thorough technical support for the Polish MoD’s AW149s in line with Leonardo and PZL-Swidnik’s commitment to deliver industrial benefits to Poland.     already in service with international operators for a range of applications and under evaluation among many countries is ideally suited to modernise defence helicopter fleets and replace a range of ageing types in the medium weight category The AW149 is a latest generation multirole military helicopter designed from the outset to meet the most demanding needs of armed forces The platform can be reconfigured to perform a wide variety of demanding tasks in the toughest operational conditions highest levels of safety and survivability provide defence users with high operational availability mission effectiveness and cost efficiency of the fleet said: “The contract signed today is a continuation of the fulfillment of our promises to Poland regarding Leonardo's commitment to the development of the local helicopter plants and the Polish supply chain to the benefit of Polish industry By strengthening our position in the strategic Polish market as a supplier of modern defence technology we are proud to contribute to the constant increase of the security of the Polish nation and to strengthen the industrial capabilities which are fundamental to the country's resilience and sovereignty.” said: “The state-of-the-art AW149 helicopter represents a quantum leap forward in true multirole mission and growth capability efficient fleet management and emergency responsiveness for modern armed forces The localisation of industrial and logistical capabilities for these new helicopters to meet Poland’s needs leverage the long established and unique capabilities of PZL-Swidnik and its professional skills combined with the outstanding operational capabilities of the AW149 will deliver unparalleled advantages to the country.”      President of PZL-Swidnik said: “With complete capabilities in helicopter design PZL-Swidnik confirms its leadership and the continuation of its 70-year heritage through the setting of key milestones for our aviation industry I know PZL-Swidnik’s helicopters and their great capabilities well as a former military officer with experience in country and abroad Being today on the industrial side of this experience serving the present and future generation of soldiers as a manufacturer I have an even greater sense of fulfillment of my duties I am convinced that the AW149 will meet the Armed Forces’ high-end needs Leonardo's PRS Receiver Achieves 1st Certification for Defence and Emergencies Throughout Europe Verticon 2025: New Orders and New Markets Confirm Leonardo's Strong Position in the Global Commercial Helicopter Sector Leonardo and Baykar Sign a Partnership for Unmanned Technologies EDGE Group and Leonardo Sign Groundbreaking Collaboration Agreement Leonardo Signs MoU in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Expand Collaboration in the Aerospace and Defence Sector AFRL Awards Ursa Major $28.6M Contract for Responsive Space SAIC Awarded New $55M Mission Integration Contract From Space Development Agency SEA Secures Contract to Support UK Royal Navy Ship Availability and Resilience GDEB Awarded $12Bn Contract Modification for Virginia-Class Submarines Bell Announces Delivery of 2 Bell 407GXis to Chicago Police Department Rain and Sikorsky Test Advanced Aerial Firefighting Technologies Using Autonomous Black Hawk Helicopter Greece Orders 8ht Airbus H215 Helicopters to Combat Forest Fires US Army Selects Near Earth Autonomy and Honeywell to Deliver Autonomous Black Hawk Logistics Solution Bell Announces Signed Purchase Agreement for First Bell 505 in the Netherlands Elevate Your Business with Our Market Studies and LEGO® Magic the Polish helicopter manufacturer part of Leonardo's Helicopter Division has over 60 years of experience and produced over 7,400 helicopters for customers in over 40 countries the Polish helicopter manufacturer part of Leonardo’s Helicopter Division The first all new helicopter to be designed developed and manufactured by PZL-Świdnik was the 14-seat Sokół (Falcon) in 1985 The Sokół is still in production today and is achieving significant export success due to its excellent performance and cost effectiveness From designing helicopter blades to coordinating international research projects This is the professional journey of Monika Stachurska who is currently the Technology & Innovation Program Coordinator of the Engineering & Innovation department for PZL-Świdnik a centre of excellence for the production of rotary-wing aircraft owned by Leonardo since 2010.  A passion for rotorcraft and a degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a specialisation in Helicopter Engineering, led Monika Stachurska to work at PZL-Świdnik a Polish helicopter OEM acquired by Leonardo in 2010 with more than 7,400 helicopters produced in over 40 countries approximately 2,600 employees and 1,000 Polish enterprises with which it cooperates: these are the figures of PZL-Świdnik one of the leading centres of excellence for the production of rotary-wing aircraft which has made Poland one of the Group’s five domestic markets Monika Stachurska’s career began in the department that designs helicopter rotor blades where she was soon involved with coordinating international research projects a starting point that led to her current role as Technology & Innovation Program Coordinator of the Engineering & Innovation department at PZL-Świdnik “is to develop a synergy between the company and the territory (with the scientific community universities and small and medium-sized enterprises) so as to identify market trends and explore emerging technologies that could be of interest for our products and in line with the company's vision and objectives spread a culture of innovation and support inter-departmental coordination of research and development projects.”  and an inclination to work collaboratively within international and multidisciplinary teams are skills that have enabled Monika to collaborate on projects and contracts for key local stakeholders such as the Polish Ministry of Defence and the aeronautics industry Monika and her team are currently working on the experimental phase of an innovative visual navigation system one of Leonardo’s 12 research and innovation projects – under the EUREKA programme – funded by the European Union (Horizon Europe) and aimed at digitalizing Europe’s skies flight testing is under way on an innovative visual navigation system under the EUREKA programme This system could permit helicopters to acquire additional autonomous functions enabling a significant increase in on-board autonomy and/or a considerable reduction in pilot workload while simultaneously improving the human-machine interface.” A new chapter in helicopter history is being written as part of the Industry 4.0 revolution in step with the latest innovations in technology This is just one of many projects that demonstrate how the helicopter market is rapidly evolving and how “We at Leonardo are shaping it through our commitment JSESSIONID - BA7905AFED8377A86FB16C0AFBBF18C6.lcsgepalsv050 BIGipServerPool-nuovo-sito-prod - 1426723082.20480.0000 f5avraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa_session_ - CJDLMEENKCBOCJEAKFEMEJHLFFAENBBEGFFHGLMOIOPHDLPHDKPOPPFNNBNILCKCJMFDLFKGAIIAENKIMAFAPNHCDHICKMOGOEAAPMBPCONOIEICFCBFMGIOHMFDDCPF a ceremony was held at the WSK PZL-Świdnik headquarters to inaugurate the production line for AW149 multi-role helicopters The helicopters will be manufactured at the Świdnik plant as part of the supply program for the Polish Armed Forces As emphasized by Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda who was present at the ceremony: The opening of the new AW149 assembly line at PZL Świdnik is a flywheel for the Polish economy The contract worth PLN 8.25 billion with the Ministry of National Defense is significant support allowing for a gradual increase in employment which today amounts to 3,500 employees This plant is the pride of Poland and the region is expected to enable the production of 10 AW149 helicopters per year This capacity will allow for fulfilling deliveries to meet the needs of the Polish Armed Forces by the end of 2029 and will be able to handle additional orders https://twitter.com/pawelbejda/status/1798089451450651127 President of PZL-Świdnik: The recent period has been a time of multimillion-dollar investments particularly the building that now houses the complete production line for AW149 helicopters a new era begins for the Świdnik plant – it was clear to me from the very beginning when I was appointed as President of PZL-Świdnik that we needed a new line to produce the most advanced helicopters to further develop our competencies What we have achieved also meets the highest needs of the Polish Armed Forces – the AW149 helicopters will provide the Land Forces with the best possible combat support which is what this platform was created for is ready to be delivered to the user the gathered guests had the opportunity to learn about the new investments at PZL Świdnik These include the final assembly line (FAL) for the AW149 and the station for testing during which the helicopter is equipped with electrical installations The first AW149 being assembled on the final assembly line at PZL-Świdnik The station where the assembly of the largest components of the AW149 will take place: the engine and the connection of the fuselage with the tail boom The final step of this stage will be the installation of the instrument panels and the ATP test of the helicopter where the helicopters undergo final inspection The AW149 program for the Polish Armed Forces is based on localizing the production of these helicopters in Poland This is a strategic decision by the Ministry of Defense aimed at securing both national security and key industrial benefits Poland gains not only the most advanced helicopters but also a domestic logistical base and technical support located close to the military worth PLN 8.25 billion gross (USD 2.05 billion) for 32 AW149 helicopters was signed in Świdnik in 2022 and also includes the integration of all helicopter systems and dedicated weaponry as well as future upgrades and technical support throughout the lifecycle of Poland’s AW149 fleet This is the fifth helicopter to be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces This particular unit was still produced at Leonardo’s plant in Vergiate / Photos and video: Jakub Link-Lenczowski said: PZL-Świdnik is an example of the highest level of excellence within our organisation there are growing requirements for our company based in Świdnik to continue to evolve from a manufacturer to a key market player that manages complex contracts and deliveries The Polish MoD programme of AW149 is a clear example of this today The localisation of industrial and logistical capabilities for these new helicopters to meet Poland’s needs leverage the long established and unique capabilities of PZL-Świdnik and its professional skills combined with the outstanding operational capabilities of the AW149s will deliver unparalleled advantages to the country has full capabilities from design to production and servicing it also leverages the strategic depth provided by its European facilities—this means speed of delivery and flexibility in responding to demanding delivery schedules or potential scenarios related to military threats in today’s geopolitical situation The first AW149 helicopters were produced in Vergiate (Italy) where PZL-Świdnik employees underwent on-the-job training integrating into the production cycle of helicopters for the Polish military The first helicopters were received by the Land Forces just 15 months after the contract was signed and there is a growing number of young newly hired employees who are graduates of technical universities cooperation with polytechnics and technical military universities is continuously developing This aims to meet the current and future needs of the country for a strong engineering workforce considering both industrial development and security The Świdnik plant employs test pilots with the highest level of capability (Level 1) to meet the current and future needs of the Polish Army and other Polish programmes These pilots performed a dynamic demonstration of the AW149 during the ceremonial opening of the AW149 production line https://twitter.com/PZLSwidnik/status/1798235652334768317 The Polish Land Forces has taken delivery of their first two Leonardo AW149 helicopters during a ceremony held at the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade in Tomaszów Mazowiecki on Oct where they are entering service 15 months after the contract signing The new Polish military helicopters’ configuration allows combat support missions Fully meeting the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces guided/unguided rockets and missiles and self-defense systems is installed in the cabin or on the helicopter’s external hard points The delivery follows the contract announced on 1st July 2022 including logistics The Polish MoD’s program is based on localized production through PZL-Świdnik which is the prime contractor also covering the integration of the helicopter’s systems and dedicated armament Poland gains not only state-of-the-art helicopters but also a domestic logistics base and technical facilities located close to the Polish Land Forces This delivery marks the quick reaction of PZL-Świdnik as contractor and local industrial partner of Polish Armed Forces for many decades will also deliver support services for these helicopters and modernize them in accordance with the future needs of the operator The localization of industrial and logistical capabilities for these new helicopters to meet Poland’s needs leverage the long established and unique capabilities of PZL-Świdnik and its professional skills combined with the outstanding operational capabilities of the AW149 will deliver unparalleled advantages to the country.” president of PZL-Świdnik said: “With complete capabilities in helicopter design PZL-Świdnik confirmed again its leadership and the continuation of its over 70-year heritage through the setting of key milestones for Polish aviation industry As a former military officer with experience in country and through international missions I have an even greater sense of fulfillment of my duties leading PZL-Świdnik now I am convinced that the AW149 will meet the Armed Forces’ high-end needs and those helicopters will provide them the best-in-class combat support This press release was prepared and distributed by Leonardo Helicopters has announced that two Świdnik-produced W-3PL Głuszec helicopters are successfully demonstrating their combat support capabilities during the combined joint personnel recovery standardization course (CJPRSC) that is being held in Florennes organized by the European Air Group (EAG) for eight years now is a unique European military training course that aims at strengthening Armed Forces’ capabilities in the field of planning and executing Personnel Recovery missions The course is designed to equip all its participants with the tactics and techniques required to successfully perform missions within a dynamic multi-national military environment The CJPRSC brought together 400 personnel from 11 countries and involved a total of 23 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft Polish Armed Forces were well represented with four helicopter participating comprising two W-3PL Głuszec and two Mi-24 Hind helicopters which provided close combat support during the exercise which is a result of close and successful collaboration between PZL-Świdnik the Polish R&D sector and the Armed Forces is the most recent and modern in-service combat version of PZL-Świdnik’s flagship product The first four W-3PL Głuszec helicopters were delivered to the Polish Land Forces in December 2010 PZL-Świdnik has also signed a contract for the upgrade of an additional four Sokół helicopters to W-3PL configuration which are currently being completed at the Swidnik facility With the Głuszec program tailored to meet the Polish Land Forces demanding requirements and over 150 Świdnik-produced helicopters already in service with the Polish Armed Forces the Company is playing a key role in satisfying the country’s military helicopter requirements leveraging on its unique and extensive rotorcraft research development and manufacturing capabilities The W-3PL Głuszec is a cost-effective helicopter platform which can be fitted with advanced avionics and mission equipment that enable the aircraft to perform missions ranging from combat support and armed attack through to SAR and troop transport The aircraft can be fitted with a wide range of weapon systems supporting the end users’ requirements on the battlefield Leonardo has announced that it has signed a contract valued at approximately €380 million (US$423 million) that will significantly enhance the Polish Navy’s helicopter capability Through its fully owned Polish company and main industrial presence in the country Leonardo will supply four AW101s and a comprehensive integrated logistics and training package to the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MoD) acting as the prime contractor and responsible for the entire contract execution meeting all the requirements of the Polish MoD and will deliver and support the maritime multirole helicopters The AW101 helicopter is already in service in some of the most important NATO nations among others The Świdnik facility plays a significant role in the production of all the AW101s ordered worldwide With deliveries expected to be completed by 2022 the AW101 will perform a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) This contract signing for the AW101s and the relevant support package follows the offset agreement valued at approximately €90 million (US$100 million) recently announced The contract was signed on April 26 in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki the Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak during a ceremony at Leonardo’s facility in Świdnik “We are proud that the Polish MoD has confirmed its trust in Leonardo as one of its key partners to collaborate on national defense to support the modernization of the Armed Forces and boost technological and industrial growth We are committed to further reinforcing our presence and contribution to Poland one of Leonardo’s home countries where we see significant collaboration opportunities in the future.” added: “The supply of the best-in-class maritime AW101s will allow the Polish Navy to meet its rigorous requirements for the protection of national security in the Baltic Sea and for NATO operations It will also enable life-saving missions in demanding conditions with second-to-none effectiveness leveraging Leonardo’s leading role in the maritime helicopter field the broad scope of industrial collaboration under the offset agreement will guarantee secure and independent fleet management.” To further consolidate its presence and develop its business in Poland Leonardo is establishing a new legal entity headquartered in Warsaw Leonardo Poland will represent and promote the entire technological and product portfolio It will support the customer during the programs’ life cycle to develop partnerships with Polish industry ensuring closeness to the customer and local stakeholders Marco Lupo has been appointed president of Leonardo Poland with the objective of tightening relations with Polish customers and stakeholders and reinforcing the already well-established position of Leonardo in the country PZL-Swidnik has handed over the final two W-3A Sokol multipurpose combat helicopters under contract to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at Clark Air Base near Manila PZL-Swidnik has handed over the final two W-3A Sokol multipurpose combat helicopters under contract to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at Clark Air Base near Manila Ferried onboard an An-124 Ruslan large cargo aircraft from Lublin Airport the helicopter delivery follows a PHP2.8bn ($60.6m) government-to-government contract to supply a total of eight helicopters to the air force Signed as part of the air force’s modernisation programme the contract also included delivery of ground support equipment and spare parts as well as support services and training for aircrew and maintainers PZL-Swidnik Management Board president Mieczyslaw Majewski said the company hopes to expand its partnership with the air force through the provision of technical support and ongoing operational support for the helicopters Philippine Air Force spokesman Miguel Ernesto Okol was quoted by Philstar.com as saying that the helicopters will greatly improve the service’s search and rescue (SAR) capability The first batch of four helicopters was delivered in February 2012 Flown by the company trained pilots of the 505th Search and Rescue Group the helicopters have proven to be highly-effective and reliable when operating in challenging conditions Powered by two WSK PZL-Rzeszow PZL-10W turboshaft engines the W-3A Sokol is a medium-size helicopter primarily designed to deliver combat support for the armed forces as well as to destroy fixed and moving armoured targets and hostile troops PAF Sokols are integrated with the latest navigation and avionics systems an electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) and night vision goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit enabling operations during day and night in all weather conditions Capable of flying 734km or staying airborne for more than four hours the 6t helicopter can transport up to 11 troops in the cabin or lift up to 2,100kg using its external cargo hook Image: A W-3 Sokol combat helicopter on display at the 2005 Radom Air Show in Poland The Polish Armed Forces are expanding and modernizing their helicopter fleet several contracts have been signed for deliveries with further ones being the subject of discussions and consultations The large number of next-generation helicopters presents new challenges for the Polish Armed Forces in terms of pilot training and technical maintenance for helicopters at least one generation newer than those currently in use the Armament Agency has signed contracts for the delivery of modern helicopters for the needs of the Polish Armed Forces This includes eight multi-role S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for Special Forces 32 Leonardo AW149 multi-role support helicopters for the Land Forces and four maritime multi-role Leonardo AW101 helicopters for the Navy It is prudent to acquire additional helicopters for the Land Forces which need to replace transport helicopters from the Mi family These could be AW101 helicopters or additional AW149s or a certain mix of these platforms Poland is to acquire 96 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters In addition to the aforementioned four maritime AW101s the needs of the Navy are estimated to require at least eight or even twelve additional units of this type including shipborne helicopters as part of the Kondor program which would replace the aging SH-2G Super Seasprite What connects the aforementioned helicopters is the fact that they are at least one generation more modern than the helicopters currently used in the Polish Armed Forces This sets entirely new requirements in terms of personnel training – both for pilots and technical staff Pilots of the Polish Navy in the cockpit of the AW101 helicopter / Photo: Polish Navy A significant number of new helicopters that are already being delivered as well as those that will be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces will be produced by PZL-Świdnik (AW149) or with significant involvement of these facilities (AW101) it is not surprising that the Polish helicopter manufacturer offers its solutions to our military in terms of pilot and technical personnel training PZL-Świdnik would be the direct provider of a comprehensive training system This system would include all necessary elements such as trainers there would be full support from PZL-Świdnik as the helicopter manufacturer for the flying and technical personnel to be trained offers the latest solutions in training – a simulator with virtual and augmented reality physical part consists of the pilot’s seat control elements such as the cyclic stick and collective lever as well as a simplified instrument panel The rest of the pilot’s working environment is generated using special goggles worn by the trainee pilot This is the first device of its kind built by the manufacturer replicating the company’s own products This allows for the combination of simulation capabilities with data from real helicopters that the simulation replicates The pilot in the VxR virtual flight simulator The augmented reality goggles provide visualizations of both the helicopter’s interior and its surroundings Virtual reality allows for replacing equipment equivalent to a full flight simulator Not only is the pilot’s cockpit and the helicopter’s surroundings replicated but also the actual dynamic properties of the simulated aircraft All of this allows the pilot to feel just like in the cockpit of a real helicopter including interaction with physical devices in the cockpit and on the instrument panel which enables a more faithful representation of a given helicopter which increases the realism of the pilot’s sensations while observing the virtual cockpit interior and the space outside the helicopter with terrain obstacles and other environmental elements during flight it was possible to eliminate large elements typical of traditional simulators such as a projection system This significantly reduces the weight and size of the entire simulator increasing its mobility and the possibility of placing it on a movable platform the VxR simulator is easy to transport and does not require extensive infrastructure A prime example of this was the presentation of such a simulator by PZL-Świdnik during MSPO 2023 The showcased device was placed in a standard The virtual cockpit is capable of replicating all types of helicopters produced by the Leonardo Group the VxR simulator can be used in the training process for crews of various helicopters in the fleet of the same user The pilot using the virtual VxR simulator not only sees the interior of the cockpit and the helicopter’s surroundings but also the position of their hands enabling manipulation of switches in the virtual cockpit PZL-Świdnik is not only offering the VxR simulator but also modern solutions in the form of more traditional devices As representatives of the Polish facility inform today the Polish Navy uses precisely such modern simulator systems for training AW101 helicopter pilots AW149 helicopter of the Land Forces / Photo: Grzegorz Sobczak no one knows the piloting characteristics of helicopters better than their designer and manufacturer Thanks to access to certified data precise replication of piloting characteristics in the simulator can be achieved the helicopter manufacturer can handle the management and technical servicing of the equipment used in the training process The experience of the Leonardo Helicopter Training Academy allows for the development of training solutions tailored to the user’s needs taking into account various helicopter platforms including those acquired in other programs A new category of product offered by the Leonardo Group is the ETD e-Motion simulator (Enhanced Training Device) It combines the capabilities of a six-degrees-of-freedom platform simulator (Full Flight Simulator) with providing increased simulation realism not only in flight characteristics but also in other pilot sensations such as G-forces or defining the scenery in the training area to replicate specific geographic locations The system can be installed in a set of containers allowing for its use without the need for specialized infrastructure construction and it can be deployed in any location and quickly relocated AW149 helicopter simulator provided by Leonardo / Photo: Leonardo The simulator allows for conducting training in reconnaissance missions and target search using the latest sensors that can be installed on board of a helicopter missions to combat enemy armored vehicles as well as cooperation with other military units PZL-Świdnik offers the AW109 TrekkerM helicopter which is the military version of the popular AW109 It is a light twin-engine multi-role helicopter known for its good performance including in high-altitude and tropical climate conditions It is also flexible in adapting to various missions The main rotor turning to the left allows trainees to develop proper piloting habits especially in emergency situations like autorotation which will be identical to those required for heavier helicopters that the trainee pilot will fly later An additional seat has been installed in the rear part of the pilots’ cabin allowing observation of all actions of both pilots as a seat for a trainee pilot flying as an observer who can watch the actions of their colleagues during the flight and learn from their mistakes AW101 maritime helicopter of the Polish Navy / Photo: Polish Navy The electronic displays of the glass cockpit facilitates flights with both single- and two-person crews in visibility conditions adequate for both the visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) the use of the Honeywell Synthetic Vision System which displays a synthetic image of the surroundings supplemented with navigational data and marked terrain obstacles on the cockpit monitors This system is also included in the equipment of helicopters such as the AW149 The TrekkerM also features the Helicopter Terrain Avoidance Warning System (HTAWS) the AW109 TrekkerM can carry armament such as machine gun pods or unguided missile launchers Helicopters produced by Leonardo share many common features that ensure a high level of interoperability This allows for a smooth transition of pilots from advanced training helicopters such as the aforementioned AW109 TrekkerM to performing tasks on heavier helicopters A significant portion of avionics equipment is shared among various Leonardo-produced models making Leonardo a global provider of training these capabilities may be available through PZL-Świdnik which is always involved in all commitments within Polish helicopter programs the training processes for aircraft technical personnel also utilize simulation techniques This includes the technical training provided by PZL-Świdnik for Leonardo family helicopters During familiarization with maintenance principles technical personnel use elements of practical training based on Interactive Virtual Maintenance Trainer Simulator (IVMTS) interactive devices technicians can familiarize themselves with the construction and operation of the main helicopter components such as engines or main gearboxes In the field of avionics and other helicopter installations the training system is supported by a special VTM package the training technical personnel can learn the procedures used for servicing onboard installations and learn to perform them correctly even before gaining full access to the actual helicopter Representatives of PZL-Świdnik emphasize that they are able to provide an efficient training system optimized for the Polish Armed Forces based on the experiences already gained by the entire Leonardo Group in the field of training cooperation with military customers worldwide AW101 helicopter simulator cabin during pilot training / Photo: Leonardo PZL-Świdnik also has the capability to provide technical support for simulator system operation and maintenance teams stationed with the user as well as easy access to spare parts and on-site technical support for simulator usage According to information obtained by MILMAG determine the possibilities of acquiring a comprehensive training solution It will include 24 helicopters configured for training with the use of airborne combat assets a training system composed of simulators and trainers a logistics support package for training and adaptation or construction of infrastructure closely related to the training system Time of peace and safety in Europe has come to an end this year on 24 February with cruel Russian attack on Ukraine the expansion and modernization of the Polish army is one of the priorities of the government’s actions That is why we have significantly accelerated the increase in military expenditures - next year it will be 3% of GDP which will be allocated to the development of the Polish army we will allocate PLN 30-40 billion for arms procurement Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited PZL-Świdnik - company that manufactured and delivered over 7,400 helicopters to customers in over 40 countries worldwide “Safe Poland comes from military security and defense security but it is possible only on the basis of the foundation of safe finances” “the Polish army must be based on the state-of-art technologies and must be effective.” The Head of the Government remarked that Polish weapons are proving their effectiveness in Ukraine today also for money coming form the state budget He also reminded an old maxim – To modernize an army one needs three things: money “There is no strong country without strong army But a strong army can only grow on the foundation of a strong Polish state that is financially efficient The kind we are currently building” stressed the Prime Minister the number of soldiers in the Polish Armed Forces has increased from 95 thousand to over 140 thousand we want to increase this number even more - to about 300 thousand soldiers It will be approximately 250 thousand professional soldiers and approximately 50 thousand soldiers of the Territorial Defence Forces which significantly exceeds the minimum NATO requirements (2% of GDP for defence) This puts Poland among the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization when it comes to military expenditures next year defence expenditures will increase to 3% GDP and we have planned PLN 97.4 billion in the 2023 state budget for this purpose we will allocate PLN 30-40 billion to arms procurement We focus on equipment produced by Polish arms factories but we also look at modern solutions offered by foreign manufacturers manufactured and delivered over 7,400 helicopters to customers in over 40 countries worldwide Through PZL-Świdnik Poland is one of 5 EU member states which can boast the capability to design develop and support helicopters on their own including 550 engineers and cooperates with ca PZL-Świdnik is a key partner of the Polish Ministry of Defense – 80% of helicopters supplied to the MND in the last 10 years have been produced in Świdnik facilities Since 2010 PZL-Świdnik has been Leonardo Helicopters company part of Leonardo Group - a global high-tech company that is among the ten largest players in the world in the aerospace To make this website work, we log user data. By using Shephard's online services, you agree to our Privacy Policy Stay up to date with our Newsletter Or login PZL Swidnik has started the development of a naval version of its W-3 Sokol twin-engined helicopter which has been given the designation W-3PL/N is based on the W-3PL Gluszec multi-role armed helicopter now in service with the Polish armed forces and builds on experience gained from the work on the W-3 Anaconda maritime SAR helicopter operated by the Polish Navy in the Baltic Sea In service W-3PL/Ns will be fitted with a range of mission equipment including search radar anti-submarine warfare gear such as a dipping sonar and sonobuoys as well as EO/IR sensors and a rescue hoist The aircraft will also feature an emergency floatation system new landing gear and main rotor blade folding system Weapon systems are likely to include air-to-surface missiles said 'This latest addition to the product range benefits from our unrivalled expertise in the naval helicopter sector and builds upon the success of the Sokol platform.' As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to Premium News and Defence Insight … Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH) have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023 The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph By 2009-09-04T08:00:00 PZL Swidnik has unveiled two projects based on the further development of its W-3 Sokol utility helicopter design You have reached your limit of free articles for this period Register for a FREE account to read this article and benefit from: Join now 2019 – Leonardo announced today that it has signed a contract valued at approximately 380 mln EUR (1.65 bn PLN) that will significantly enhance the Polish Navy’s helicopter capability and will deliver and support the most capable maritime multirole helicopter available on the market today The helicopter is already in service in some of the most important NATO nations among others The Świdnik facility plays a significant role in the production of all the AW101s ordered worldwide With deliveries expected to be completed by 2022 the AW101 will perform a range of missions including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) This contract signing for the AW101s and the relevant support package follows the Offset Agreement 400 mln PLN (90 mln EUR) recently announced The contract was signed today in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki the Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak and Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo during a ceremony at Leonardo’s facility in Świdnik “We are proud that the Polish MoD has confirmed its trust in Leonardo as one of its key partners to collaborate on national defence one of Leonardo’s home countries where we see significant collaboration opportunities in the future.” added: “The supply of the best-in-class maritime AW101s will allow the Polish Navy to meet its rigorous requirements for the protection of national security in the Baltic Sea and for NATO operations leveraging Leonardo’s leading role in the maritime helicopter field the broad scope of industrial collaboration under the Offset Agreement will guarantee secure and independent fleet management.” It will support the customer during the programs’ life cycle to develop partnerships with Polish industry Marco Lupo has been appointed President of Leonardo Poland Indo Defence – Jakarta – 11-14 June DSEI – London – 9-12 September PARTNER – Belgrade – 23-26 September Seafuture – La Spezia – 29 Sept.-2 October ADEX – Seoul – 29 October-2 November Dubai Air Show – Dubai – 17-21 November Milipol Paris – Paris – 18-21 Novenber Expodefensa – Bogotá – 1-3 December being in need of modernizing its aging air fleet based on Russian technology will be one of the largest receivers of military helicopters in Europe as a producer of helicopters.” said Jacek Libucha President of the Management Board of PZL-Świdnik President Of The Management Board of PZL-Świdnik / Photo: PZL-Świdnik Let’s start our interview talking about an event that took place in early July – contract for 32 AW149 helicopters for our Armed Forces How will that influence the operation of PZL-Świdnik an important milestone in further development of PZL-Świdnik strictly military helicopter to our portfolio This is happening while the W-3 helicopters are still being serviced and upgraded to meet the needs of the military While we maintain the W-3 fleet at least until 2035 and beyond if such will be the need of the military we are at the same time creating a new helicopter production line which for the next decades will be one of the most important multi-role rotorcraft in the Polish Armed Forces investing in the production line and the entire infrastructure – we have to expand our own flight test competences we are already producing part of the AW149 airframe structure The launch of the production line means that the helicopter will be equipped with all elements We are already doing it with W-3 helicopters and now we will extend our competences to cover the state-of-the-art AW149 helicopter soon delivered to the Polish Armed Forces by PZL-Świdnik / Photo: Grzegorz Sobczak There are voices pointing out that AW149 is too large for the “Perkoz” programme that it won’t exactly substitute one-to-one for Mi-2 and W-3 the decision to choose AW140 was made I’d like to ask about purely technological differences that separate those old helicopters from the new AW149 apart from the differences in size and payload How much technological progress can we see by comparing those helicopters Substituting on a one-to-one basis doesn’t have to be the sole solution – replacement of military vehicles should primarily take into account contemporary theaters of war The warfare conditions when Mi-2 entered service were different than they are today Replacing military helicopters is therefore a derivative of their functions and tasks to perform The Information presented by the Ministry Of National Defense clearly shows that the purchase of AW149 was carried out with specific tasks and tactical units in mind so we are not talking about simple substitution for Mi-2 The order of AW149 is an important event Could you also present the current situation of PZL-Swidnik as a composite part of Leonardo Helicopters One leg is corporate cooperation – we are Leonardo Helicopters’ center of excellence in airframe design and manufacturing – and this is a key activity for our financial sustainability this part of the business complements our main function as a helicopter manufacturer and the helicopter manufacturer creates their own technologies to which you have rights Our portfolio includes helicopters that were historically produced only in Świdnik we have a new helicopter based on technologies that are in our business group This strengthens our position as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) – and this is the other leg that will allow us to continue long-term growth in the decades to come this is a sine qua non condition for the existence of PZL-Świdnik as a helicopter manufacturer AW149 helicopter equipped with optoelectronic head and a winch / Photo: Grzegorz Sobczak we pride ourselves on being Leonardo Helicopters’ center of excellence in aviation structures that is since PZL-Świdnik joined the Leonardo Group the revenue of PZL-Świdnik has increased fourfold It is worth noting that our competence is valued within the Leonardo Group We have been developing it as an OEM for 70 years and we are the only Polish helicopter manufacturer in Poland and one of the few in the world I can add that our employees are sometimes posted to other Leonardo plants around the world to participate in international programs when answering the question about the situation in PZL-Świdnik I would like to add that in terms of productivity in relation to industrial matters PZL-Świdnik achieves one of the best results in the entire Group Speaking of current events — how is the cooperation between PZL-Świdnik and the Polish Armed Forces at present We are invariably the leading supplier of helicopters for our military Sixty percent of all the helicopters currently flying in the Polish Armed Forces are of our production and 80% of helicopters ever delivered to the Polish military were produced by PZL-Świdnik We are currently implementing long-term contracts – supplying equipment We are modifying the W-3 helicopters which will soon gain new main rotor blades and let me remind you – according to the declaration of the Ministry of Defense “Sokoły” are to be used at least until 2035 We also support and deliver helicopters for the Navy The AW149 supply contract is another proof of the importance of domestic production technical facilities and how well helicopters from Świdnik are assessed AW139 helicopter’s frame during the montage in PZL-Świdnik / Photo: Hans Wolf One of the contracts recently signed by PZL-Świdnik as part of Leonardo Helicopters was also an order for the supply of four AW101 helicopters for the Polish Navy We are the main contractor of the agreement for the supply of AW101 helicopters for the Polish Navy The assembly line is located in the Leonardo plant in Yeovil but the airframe structures have been built in the Świdnik plant We have already done our part of the work for the Polish program The airframes were shipped to Great Britain in the correct sequence Along with the main contract for the supply of four AW101 helicopters for the Polish Navy the beneficiary of which is Military Aviation Works No which creates a support center for the operation of helicopters The other beneficiary of the offset contract is the Center of Maritime Military Technologies at the Gdańsk University of Technology in which PZL-Świdnik is the so-called main contractor as well as in all our proposals for the Polish Ministry of Defense in the field of helicopters we always care about the benefits for Poland Montage line of helicopters from AW139 family / Photo: Grzegorz Sobczak At what stage is the realization of this order Three helicopters are already being tested in flight the test of the fourth will take place soon As previously announced by the Armaments Agency the helicopters will be delivered in the first half of 2023 The first part of the logistics package will be delivered this year We hope to significantly increase the potential of the Polish Navy soon These four aircraft are unlikely to fully meet the needs of our sailors What are the potential options for increasing the AW101 fleet in the Navy  “We hope that our cooperation with the Navy will not end with these four helicopters so using the option for the next four keeps appearing in conversations would be the optimal number to form a Navy contingent of these powerful helicopters which have a much wider application than the search-and-rescue (SAR) that the ‘hundred-and-one’ is also perfectly good for operating over land and in transport tasks There is also an issue of the “Kondor” (Condor) program which oversees replacement of ship-carried helicopters connected to the “Miecznik” (Swordfish) program So if we put together the needs articulated by the Navy in the past and the support that the new frigates will need a squadron of sea helicopters should satisfy the basic needs – but the decisive factor is units of the Land Forces will also need to replace their Mi-17 (Russian Mi-8) with new helicopters for transport and assault landing tasks The maintenance of Russian-made helicopters is no longer viable That is why AW101 is also a very important strategic program both for us as industry representatives we want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces  Two new autoclaves significantly increased the capabilities of composite structures / Photo: Hans Wolf the Navy is not the only potential user of AW101 helicopters This design seems to be a good solution to replace Mi-17 helicopters this would be a significant increase in capabilities a helicopter such as the AW101 would significantly increase the combat potential of military units using the Mi-17/8 at the moment – not one or two we are waiting for the army to develop its concepts Given the current situation and the fact that the military uses Mi helicopters as basic platforms for tasks requiring higher payload it is hard to imagine that we will maintain such a helicopter fleet in the next decade The Świdnik plant has become an integral part of Leonardo Helicopters what does your company’s involvement in new programs implemented by the concern look like and what are your own development programs PZL-Świdnik is involved in many development projects such as the AW609 tiltrotor and unmanned vehicles We also run a development program for new composite blades for “Sokół” It is worth mentioning that in 2020-21 – very challenging years – we increased our employment when it comes to engineering staff PZL-Świdnik employs approximately 550 engineers in design positions related to research and production with a total employment level of approximately 2,600 people We are carrying out new development works – we should first mention the new main rotor blades for the “Sokół” It was a big investment program for us there are also a few other modifications that we want to implement in the existing “Sokół” helicopters This includes the digitization of avionics we want to install a new four-axis autopilot on all existing W-3s The negotiations pertaining to those issues are advanced and we have already done a lot of work in that regard The Pratt & Whitney plants from Rzeszów and the Air Force Inspectorate were also involved in developing the concept of such a program Today it is not yet possible to say what the final arrangements will be but we agreed together that such a Mid-Life Upgrade must happen if we want to ensure smooth operation of “Sokół” up to at least 2035 and functions as a technology demonstrator and as an unmanned aerial vehicle It flew last year over the Baltic Sea and two years ago off the coast of Italy as part of the OCEAN2020 trials including its satellite communications system allowing it to operate further away from the flight control center We are also carrying out some works aimed at improving the comfort of using SW-4 helicopters flying in Dęblin but these are not fundamental development works Helicopter SW-4 belonging to Polish Armed Forces during a maintenance works in the hangar of PZL-Świdnik / Photo: Grzegorz Sobczak Last year you have intensely promoted AW139 as a helicopter that could be fully produced in PZL-Świdnik and meet the needs of the Polish Armed Forces How do you formulate your plans regarding that One of the competitive advantages of Leonardo Helicopters over other helicopter manufacturers is our flexibility which is why we don’t restrict ourselves to a single design which was created on the AW139 platform in cooperation with Boeing for the US Air Force – this is how Gray Wolf was created The first four units are now delivered after final supplementary certification by the FAA The US Air Force has a wide range of helicopters produced locally but they decided to adopt a solution based on the AW139 platform I also see a place in the Polish Armed Forces for this type of helicopter This helicopter can also be entirely manufactured in Świdnik PZL W-3 “Sokół” in a search and rescue variant during maintenance works in the hangar of PZL-Świdnik / Photo: Hans Wolf the question about the direction in which the activities of PZL-Świdnik will develop in the coming years Which market sectors will be the most important Our most important client is the Polish military and we want it to stay that way for identity reasons we have other important clients in Poland and abroad but I see the greatest potential mainly in Poland They have great needs when it comes to the replacement of equipment in various helicopter categories so it is difficult to imagine that PZL-Świdnik would not be part of the solution to these challenges PZL-Świdnik is the only Polish aircraft manufacturer with full design having a military design organization certification and all the elements required from a helicopter supplier it is hard to imagine that the army would ignore such a company at hand’s reach especially with an aviation school in Dęblin in its vicinity especially the security of the supply chain for the army I cannot imagine that we would not continue to be a strategic partner of our Armed Forces Lublin University of Technology and the School and Kindergarten Complex No which includes the Integration Kindergarten No The university was represented by the vice-rector for student affairs and on behalf of the school the contract was signed by deputy director Hubert Wiktorowicz The agreement concerns the university's support for the education of preschoolers and pupils as well as involving them in popular science projects it will be invaluable contact with the academic community it is an opportunity to identify and develop talents early workshops and thematic events that will enrich the curriculum We will invite the pupils to our studios and laboratories and our lecturers will be happy to share their knowledge and experience We want to bring young people closer to science thanks to which they will learn about the academic environment they may enter in a few years - says Prof Cooperation with Lublin University of Technology is a huge benefit for students our school has been involved in a project using the STEM method the acronym of which comes from the English words: Science Its idea is to show the pupils how fascinating learning can be by organizing lessons based on practical experiences and extracurricular activities Cooperation with Lublin University of Technology a technical university with an extensive laboratory base and experts fits perfectly into our activities - says deputy director Hubert Wiktorowicz Małgorzata Ciosmak from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering contact with the academic environment becomes an important experience for younger pupils – It is worth cultivating curiosity and interest in science from an early age which can contribute to a more comprehensive development of young people – says the scientist cooperation enables children to engage earlier in learning and opens up many development opportunities for them – At the university they will encounter the latest technologies students and various projects may be an impulse to undertake not only studies at LUT but also later professional work at the university – argues Dr Lublin University of TechnologyNadbystrzycka 38 D20-618 Lublin © 2024 Lublin University of Technology | created by OPTeam S.A. 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