The Polish Army is Planning an Ambitious Upgrading of its Helicopter

Poles have always had a special relationship with his army. It was and is the largest source of Polish national pride - it is however also possible due to the fact that military history and glorious battles are one of the few things which can really gravitate Poles. Not surprisingly, therefore, that in the European and the global financial crisis, the Polish Army is investing considerable sums of money in its modernization. Evidence is starting a program, let the wholesale replacement of aged military helicopters for the new (Western) machines.

New helicopters are designed for all components of the Polish Army, therefore, for the army, navy and air force in the longer term, even for special forces. An ambitious program is divided into several phases. The first phase is scheduled for between the years 2015-2017, when the acquired 26 modern single type of transport helicopters in various versions.

Ground troops can look forward to 16 new transport machinery. Air Force to acquire three helicopters in the configuration of Combat SAR (CSAR), a configuration for the rescue of downed pilots in enemy territory. The last Navy receives two versions - 4 helicopters modified for combat enemy submarines and three machines for reconnaissance and rescue operations.

Participating in the tender three leading manufacturers of helicopters. American Sikorsky with their, fighting machine verified S60i and the British-Italian Agusta Westland helicopter with the latest AW149 . The third participant is a Franco-German consortium Eurocopter , which offers the Polish Air Force helicopter Cougar .

All three companies have long been aware of the impending tender, so they are in Poland for many years very active. Sikorsky own Polish aviation plant PZL Mielec , where their assembly lines for machines S60i. In contrast, Agusta Westland is the owner of the plant PZL Świdnik as a Polish manufacturer of transport and combat Sokol machines - also known from the Czech army.

Eurocopter, while in Poland does not produce any helicopters or aircraft owned company, is very active in the Polish civilian market. In 2007, for example, added 23 EC-135 helicopters for Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe (Fast Air Rescue Service).

The list of companies is not so complete. In connection with the tender Polish speaks about the company NH Industries , a "joint venture" company Agusta Westland, Eurocopter and the Dutch company Fokker.

NH Industries manufactures advanced helicopter NH90 , was introduced into service a number of armies in the world. But the company's success is just a theory, because the actual management of NH Industries announced that the competition does not want to fight against its partner companies.

The Polish army is in total of 250 military helicopters (Mi-2, Mi-8, Mi-17, W-3 Sokol), mostly of Soviet manufacture. By the end of 2018 must be 2/3 machines because of their age excluded. Poles and planning within the " National Helicopter Program "to buy up to 156 new aircraft - possibly the only type in a number of versions and for all four components of the Polish Army. The only type it in the 21 century will form the backbone of the Polish Military Helicopter.