Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DEFEA 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • DSEI Japan 2023
    • NAVDEX 2023
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»Poland to Procure four AW101 maritime helicopters for ASW and SAR Missions
IMDEX Asia 2023
Poland to Procure four AW101 maritime helicopters for ASW and SAR Missions

Poland to Procure four AW101 maritime helicopters for ASW and SAR Missions

On April 8, 2019, the Polish Ministry of National Defense signed an offset package worth 395.882751 million zlotys (about $ 104 million) with Italian company Leonardo. This agreement precedes a procurement contract for four Leonardo Helicopters AW101 Merlin for the Polish Navy.

Xavier Vavasseur 14 Apr 2019

The helicopters will be used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and search and rescue (SAR) tasks. The contract for the procurement of helicopters is expected to be signed by the end of the month.

The Polish Navy planned to acquire eight maritime helicopters to replace its ageing 10 Mi-14 helicopters currently in operation with its naval aviation (eight Mi-14PLMKs and two search and rescue Mi-14PL/R). However, in 2018, due to financial reasons, the Ministry of National Defense of Poland reduced the number of naval helicopters planned for acquisition to four, postponing the purchase of another four.

In February 2017, the Polish Defense Ministry began negotiations on the purchase on a competitive basis for eight (initially) maritime helicopters with three companies: the Polish factory PZL Mielec, representing the American Sikorsky Aircraft (owned by Lockheed Martin; the MH-60R helicopter was offered), the Polish factory WSK PZL -Swidnik, representing Italy’s Leonardo (AW101), and Airbus Helicopters (H225M Caracal). In March 2017, only WSK PZL-Swidnik / Leonardo and Airbus Helicopters submitted their offers. However, in June 2018, the Polish Ministry of National Defense decided to reduce the number of procured naval helicopters to four and revise a number of technical requirements for them, after which, in December 2018, Airbus Helicopters refused to participate in the tender, and the Leonardo Helicopters AW101 became the only candidate.

The cost of the contract for the purchase of four AW101, according to Polish media reports, will be about 90 million euros.

The offset package agreement signed on April 8 includes nine commitments, the main of which is the planned creation of a AW101 helicopter maintenance and repair center jointly with Leonardo on the basis of the Polish aircraft repair plant Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 S.A. (WZL-1) in Lodz. Leonardo also pledged to provide technical support for the operation of the acquired helicopters for 10 years.

Helicopter Leonardo Merlin Poland 2019-04-14
Tags Helicopter Leonardo Merlin Poland
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More
SAS 2023

Authors

Posted by : Xavier Vavasseur
Xavier is based in Paris, France. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Xavier has been covering naval defense topics for nearly a decade.

Related Articles

Leonardo Torpedoes for K50 KRAKEN Maritime Gunship

Leonardo Torpedoes for K50 KRAKEN Maritime Gunship

Naval News Staff 14 Feb 2023
Kraken announces the signing of a partnership agreement with Leonardo to integrate Black Scorpion mini-torpedo system into the K50 Maritime Gunship.
Italy to further strengthen collaboration with Elefsis Shipyards

Italy to further strengthen collaboration with Elefsis Shipyards

Naval News Staff 14 Feb 2023
Fincantieri and Leonardo have signed a number of further MoU with Elefsis Shipyards and Greek industry for long-term business relationships.
Germany selects Leonardo’s LIONFISH 12.7 mm gun for F126 frigates

Germany selects Leonardo’s LIONFISH 12.7 mm gun for F126 frigates

Naval News Staff 22 Dec 2022
Leonardo's LIONFISH 12.7 Top defense systems have been chosen to equip the German Navy's F126 new class frigates.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved