In the 7th Air Squadron, 25th Air Cavalry Brigade, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz gave the pilots the keys to the first multi-purpose AW149 helicopter, which was entirely produced in Poland. The first 10 of 32 contracted machines went to 25 BKPow from Italy. The others will leave the production line of plants in Świdnik until 2029.
“AW149 is simply a very good multitasking helicopter, which is produced in Poland in cooperation with our allies from Italy”, said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence at the airport in Nowy Glininnik. The head of the MON took part in the ceremony of handing over the 7th Air Squadron to the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade of the AW149 chopper from the Polish production line.
As the Deputy Prime Minister recalled, the first 10 of the 32 contracted helicopters came to us from Italy, but already another 22, including the 1 received today, will be produced in Poland. The Minister besides mentioned the tasks AW149 is intended for: combat support, medical evacuation, landing, transport or logistics. – In each of these areas this chopper will be able to participate. It is well equipped, both with state-of-the-art reflection systems, communications, and weapons," stated the head of the MON.
Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked the commander of the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade, Brig. Gen. Tomasz Białas, for accepting fresh helicopters and training pilots and ground personnel. He besides expressed his gratitude to PZL-Świdnik S.A. and representatives from Italy: the Italian government, the Italian army and Leonardo Helicopters, part of which is PZL-Świdnik – for good partnership and fast service reactions. Deputy Prime Minister besides stated that he was very pleased that the 25 BKPow device delivered present is manufactured in Poland. – Let a copy of AW149, a multipurpose helicopter, a support helicopter, service well! – said the minister at the end of the speech.
Bartosz Śliwa, president of PZL-Świdnik, pointed out that the first AW149 went to 25 BKPow after 15 months of signing the contract and after 20 months the plant reached full production capacity. “It is simply a large day for PZL-Świdnik, for all of our crew, for me personally, due to the fact that after many years we supply helicopters manufactured in our plant to the Polish army,” said the president.
Production: Ewa Korsak, Aleksander Kruk
Based on Agreement signed in July 2022, as part of an urgent operational need, the Polish Army is to receive 32 AW149. The first machines delivered to Poland in 2023 were manufactured at the Italian mill Leonardo Helicopters in Vergiate. More are produced in PZL-Świdnik. The contract value is PLN 8.25 billion gross.
AW149 is the average multi-purpose chopper of the latest generation. It was designed by engineers from Leonardo Helicopters. The device is adapted for action both day and night. The glass cockpit is designed so that the pilot can usage night imagination goggles.
The chopper is used, among others, for tactical transport (it can carry up to 19 soldiers and 1-2 crew members), supplies, direct air support, medical evacuation, search and rescue in combat conditions, peculiar forces operations and surveillance and reconnaissance.
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