1st Army Air Force is ready to accept the first AH-64 Apache helicopters, which will supply the Polish Armed Forces with completely fresh capabilities. Poland ordered 96 Apache AH-64E helicopters to be delivered from 2028 to 2032. However, as early as June, 8 machines will arrive at the base in Inowrocław, which the military will receive in leasing.
Apache maker prides itself on the fact that from the AH-64A of the 1980s on the presently produced AH-64E model, despite the many upgrades introduced, 1 thing has not changed: the reputation of the world's most advanced and proven assault helicopter. Apaches importantly strengthen the capabilities of the armed forces of respective countries to which Poland will shortly besides join.
By August 2024 agreements, worth about $10 billion, the Polish Army will receive 96 AH-64E helicopters along with a logistics package, training, a comprehensive set of combat measures and spare parts. After completion of the order between 2028 and 2032 Poland will become the second largest user of Apache in the world. Before that happens, Polish soldiers will usage 300 million PLN leased AH-64D helicopters, which number eight of them will go to 56 Inowrocław Air Base in June 2025 (56 BLOT).
The process of preparing for the adoption of fresh helicopters, covering primarily the modernization and expansion of the infrastructure of 56 Bases, has been going on for nearly 10 years. From the beginning, it was connected with the operational programme "Kruk", which assumed the acquisition of respective twelve modern impact helicopters for the aviation of land troops. This means that Inowrocław was preparing for the arrival of fresh platforms long before the final selection of circumstantial machines. – The infrastructure of our base, which will be the first to be equipped with fresh helicopters, is practically ready to adopt a bridge solution – says Brig. Gen. pil. Piotr Saniuk, commander of the 1st Air Force Brigade, to which 56 BLOT is subject, refers to 8 leased Apaches in the older Delta version. It is on them that pilots and technicians will hone the skills gained in training in the United States, and strive to gain operational capacity while awaiting the arrival of Polish AH-64E in 2028.
What has changed in the Inowrocław database, which has been modernised in the context of the Kruk programme? First of all, a modern maintenance hangar was built, which can accommodate respective Mi-24 helicopters (equipped with the base), and a military fire brigade building, which is simply a safety component for the operation of the Inowrocław Airport and garrison. The flight control tower and the alleged pilot's compartment have been upgraded and expanded, and fresh buildings have been prepared for engineering and aviation personnel. The airport in turn was equipped with a fresh GCA-2000 radio-location landing strategy and an air navigation strategy and an unprecision approach to the landing of TACAN. Parking spaces for helicopters have been upgraded, and plans are to build a paved runway that will replace a belt with a natural grassy surface. In fresh years, 56 BLOT has besides acquired 2 light (tent) hangars for the retention of helicopters during regular use, protecting machines from the effects of atmospheric conditions mainly during the fall-winter season. In addition, any investment related to the essential energy, sewage, etc.
American training
Parallel to the preparation of the facilities for fresh helicopters, the unit besides prepares soldiers who will exploit them. – Crew training and key method personnel are already taking place in the United States. However, our goal is to accomplish the ability to train staff in the country as shortly as possible – emphasizes Brig. Gen. Szaniuk. Soldiers from his brigade were sent to the US in 2023. “In the first round, we directed pilots with already aviation experience and a large number of hours of departure day and night, who did not exceed 40 years of age. For the brigade, specified training is an investment in individual resources, which must make profits for more than a year or two," says Colonel Mateusz Szymanski, commander of 56 BLOT. However, it does not close the way to improvement for little experienced pilots who show ambition and desire to grow their qualifications. – erstwhile the first soldiers finished training, we sent an officer to another 1 just a fewer years after school. And despite much little experience than the erstwhile ones, he besides did large – added the colonel.
– In the case of training technicians, we focus on young people who will in the future make management and instructors for subsequent generations. It is besides crucial to want to leave, make and grow qualifications, but besides to have cognition of the English language – stresses commander 56 BLOT. Therefore, the brigade both conducts language training in the unit and sends its soldiers to various military training centers in Poland. The point is that candidates for pilots and technicians serving Apache should be ready for the exam, which they must pass before leaving the United States Embassy in Warsaw. The next step is simply a two-month stay at the Lockland Air Force base in Texas, where Poles undergo specialized language training. And only after specified a start do pilots leave for a fewer months to Fort Novosel, Alabama, and technicians to Fort Eustis, Virginia, where they have appropriate piloting or Apache service training.
– If you compare Fort Novosel to the factory, the pilots at the courses there are the highest quality products, says officer 56 Blot in the rank of captain (we do not uncover the name due to the specifics of the service), who was the first Pole to complete not only Apache pilot training but besides an instructor. This required additional months spent at Fort Novosel. – The teacher training course is comprehensive, not only prepares soldiers to pass on cognition for content – complements theoretical cognition about chopper systems and its operation – but besides teaches approaches to people to be trained. What I peculiarly enjoyed, all the cognition we gained at the lectures was later verified during the flights – the pilot betrays.
New challenges
A postgraduate of the Higher Air Force Officership School in Dęblin (since 2018 it is the Air Military Academy), gaining experience behind the rudders of Mi-2 and W-3PL helicopters, he says explicitly that Apache is not easy to pilot. Among another things, due to the fact that it requires the pilot to concentrate greatly during the continuous analysis of the information received. “The first time I was a small overwhelmed, but the full flight kept smiling,” said Officer 1 BLWL.
The challenge for the first Polish pilot-instructor Apache was to master the usage of the IHADSS (Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System), a monocular that provides the airman with quite a few data related to both platform piloting and reconnaissance, communication with another helicopters in formation, etc. The trick is to make all the information displayed on the monocular and monitors in 1 minute connect, analyse and use. – In helicopters I have flown so far, only basic flight parameters were given to the pilot. Apache's capabilities compared to them are a immense leap," said Officer 1 BLL. A large advantage, but besides an additional difficulty, was for him besides thermal vision, which allows to fly in full darkness. – The thermal image of the pilot sees only 1 eye. It is so hard to measure depth, distance, possible movements of the object. All the more reason to trust on the images available on the monocular – explains the pilot.
The difficulty put into piloting discipline and thorough cognition of this platform pays off. – Apache is simply a non-competitive helicopter, offering a much wider spectrum of activities for detecting and destroying targets than another impact platforms of this type," said Officer 1 BLWL. In a akin tone, the commander of the Inowroclaw base, where Mi-2 and Mi-24 are inactive used. – The implementation of AH-64 helicopters will supply technological leaps and fresh capabilities in the Polish Army. Apache is simply a very modern platform tested in combat conditions, capable of operating in a network-centric environment, says Colonel Szymanski. Unlike Mi-24, which does not have specified capabilities, the operation of an American chopper is based on an advanced data exchange with another aircraft or ground platforms, it can work with unmanned aircraft to identify and destruct the detected targets with a wide scope of weapons available.
Service calls
Implementation of 96 Apache to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland means not so much a extremist expansion of the chopper fleet, but the replacement of many platforms from the erstwhile era with modern machines. – Mi-2 helicopters, Mi-24 are at the end of operation. The coming change requires our soldiers to be decently engaged, which will be in the close future. In preparation for the operation and piloting of AH-64E, they will have guaranteed work on the latest equipment, says commander 56 Blot. “I get the signals that method personnel and pilots from another units are curious in working in Apache. There will be no problem with that, due to the fact that the request for fresh specialists is very large – he adds.
This means for 1 BLWL besides close cooperation with universities – Military Aviation Academy or Military method Academy. In the case of LAW, the most desirable are alumni in the direction of aviation and cosmonautics. “We besides invitation soldiers who, after their basic military service, learned at the Centre for Engineering and Air Training,” says Captain Iwona Kloskowska, press spokesperson for 1 BLWL. “There will be more and more work in the brigade. unchangeable and developmental work, as Apache chopper service does not end on 1 or 2 courses. This service is an investment in its future," added Captain Kloskowska.
Colonel's been drinking. Mateusz Szymanski mentions the concept developed in the Inspectorate of the Air Force Command General Types of Armed Forces of the concept of training of sub-commissioners in the speciality of chopper pilot, which is now at the phase of the arrangements. It assumes, among another things, the creation of a training centre which would train the pilots of the sub-commissioners in a shorter time than the oak LAW and thus effectively meet the needs of the brigade with the Apache fleet.
Preparing infrastructure, pilots, ground personnel is simply a complicated process. This besides applies to command staff, planning cells preparing to usage fresh helicopters. – This requires us not only to know the fresh platform and systems, but besides to change mentality. Apache's operating capabilities are completely different from the doctrine of utilizing and planning to carry out aircraft tasks utilizing helicopters in land troops," stresses the commander of 56 BLOT, who is already counting down the days until the arrival of AH-64D to Inowrocław.
