01 July 2022
by Gareth Jennings
Poland is buying 32 AW149s to exchange ageing Mi-2 and W-3 helicopters. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
Poland has signed for Leonardo AW149 helicopters, two weeks after the nation’s defence minister stated a deal can be sealed “within the close to future”.
Signed on the PZL-Świdnik manufacturing plant in southeastern Poland on 1 July, the deal covers 32 helicopters to be delivered from 2023 to 2029, in addition to spares, assist, and coaching.
“The AW149 helicopters, in a configuration comparable to the wants of the Polish Armed Forces, might be geared up with, amongst others,[electro-optical] techniques, machine weapons, guided and unguided missiles, and self-defence techniques. The armament, relying on the variant of the helicopter’s use, could also be put in within the cabin or on the helicopter’s hardpoints,” the Polish authorities stated, including that the helicopters might be used for troop and cargo transport, command-and-control, medical evacuation, and fight search-and-rescue.
