The acquisition of training and combat helicopters is 1 of the priorities mentioned late by Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish. The consequence to this request may be H145M, which is offered by Airbus Helicopters in a comprehensive package containing the construction of Polish capabilities for training and maintenance of helicopters by PGZ-et.
chopper H145M at MSPO in Kielce, photograph by Jakub Zagalski
Agreement on cooperation in the pilot training programme between Airbus Helicopters and Polish Armed Forces Group and the Air Force method Institute is 1 of the fruits of this year's International Defence manufacture Salon. – Partnership with PGZ-et is simply a fundamental step that will let us to make cooperation that provides Poland not only with strategical defence autonomy, but besides with the transportation of the best possible product in the form of H145M," said in Kielce Ludovic Bostos, head of sales in east Europe and CIS in Airbus Helicopters. In his opinion, this company is an perfect partner for Poland. “Our global experience in akin projects fits perfectly into the goals of the Polish government concerning military purchases: ensuring autonomy and interoperability to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland while supporting technology transfer and continuous improvement of Polish industry”, added Bostos.
Let us remind that in May, the consortium of Airbus, Babcock and CAE presented an offer for Poland covering the training strategy and the transportation of H145M helicopters. What precisely does this mean and how does Airbus Helicopters imagine cooperation with Poland, for which school and combat helicopters are, as Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish said in June, an absolute priority?
– As Airbus Helicopters, Babcock and CAE we do not offer Poland only H145 sales. We offer the full system, which consists of the transportation of equipment, but besides training, assistance in the construction of a training centre based on competences, which Poland already has – explained Ludovic Bostos. The head of sales in east Europe and CIS at Airbus Helicopters stressed that the aim of the consortium is to supply the essential tools, specified as simulators, but the basis is the transfer of knowledge. As a possible scenario, he presented sending Polish specialists to a training center in the UK. Not only to conduct a pilot course, but besides to gain the cognition and experience essential to make the competences of Polish training centres.
– Our goal is not to make a training centre in Poland, but to support the creation of a sovereign centre under the Polish leadership – Bostos said and pointed out that the Military Flying Training strategy UK (British Air Training strategy of the Land Forces) operates on a different basis than Military Academy of Aviation in Dęblin, due to the fact that the British strategy allows private companies to conduct training. In Poland, the influence of abroad entities would come down primarily to conveying full cognition of how to organize all this. – In the UK it took us 5 years to prepare training, a conspect, courses. We are ready to share this cognition and at the same time support the creation of further training centres," added Airbus Helicopters representative.
Sending Polish pilots to abroad courses or expanding LAW training opportunities is 1 thing, but what about the sale of H145 helicopters to Poland? Bonosci asked how much H145 could come to us and at what time, he talked about a process lasting 2 to 3 years. – H145 is simply a superpopular helicopter. Over the last 3 years, we have increased the production of this model by 30% each year. People can say what they want, but the reality is it takes about 3 years for the recipient to be able to usage helicopters. Airbus Helicopters is very professional and we know what the reality is. Even during war, things can't be accelerated. It is not possible to manage 24 machines overnight – indicated Bostos, referring to the acquisition plans of the Armed Forces Agency.
His communicative shows that it takes between 1 and 2 years to build training facilities, simulators, etc. During this time, future instructors could train at the MFTS and make the main elements of the training programme they would implement in their own country. The earliest transportation of the first helicopters would begin in the second year. “When we have them on the ground, we start flying on respective machines and proceed our action based on the “scissor effect”. The training needs in MFTS are decreasing and the request for further helicopters is increasing. At the end of this process, Poland gains full autonomy in training and service of the H145 fleet," explained the head of sales in east Europe and CIS at Airbus Helicopters.
Ludovic Bostos stressed that regardless of the actions taken, his company is committed to supporting the independency of the Polish defence manufacture while exploiting its capabilities. Although there is no indication at present that an Airbus chopper production line will be established on the Vistula River, Polish branches of the company play an crucial function in creating fresh solutions. Bostos gave an example of a center in Łódź, whose specialists contributed to the creation of key projects specified as an experimental Racer helicopter, which reached a velocity of 420 km/h, or a light twin-engined H140 multi-purpose helicopter.
chopper H145M at MSPO in Kielce, photograph by Jakub Zagalski
– We are very pleased with the quality of their work. We are constantly looking for opportunities for improvement in research, plan and investigating in Poland. Prof. Tomasz Krysiński, who founded the centre in Łódź, aims to establish cooperation with universities and investigation centres; we want to usage various student exchange programs," said Bostos and added that further conflict packages (war packages) are besides being sent to Łódź, but the details of the activities in this area are covered by the mystery. These packages mention to combat equipment kits or mission configurations that can be integrated into the chopper according to operational needs.
For Airbus Helicopters in the field of cooperation with Poland, education and innovation are crucial, but – as this year's MSPO shows – besides exploit the industrial possible of PGZ-et companies. The typical of the company, as an example, gave the anticipation of servicing in WZL 1 H145 helicopters, which were purchased by Ukraine. In total, specified platforms in different versions (civil, rescue, military) are utilized in Europe in at least 12 countries (e.g. Germany, large Britain, France, Cyprus, Hungary, Switzerland or Luxembourg).
– My dream is to act not only for the benefit of Poland or only for Airbus Helicopters. We want to make and advance our solutions together in another countries. In specified cooperation they are all winners (win-win). We are full prepared to invest in Poland, responding to the urgent request to strengthen its security," said the head of sales in east Europe and CIS at Airbus Helicopters.
H145 is simply a modern light multitasking helicopter, utilized in both civilian and military aviation (H145M), valued for modularity, safety, modern avionics and a wide scope of applications. It reaches cruising velocity at a maximum take-off mass (MTOW) of 241 km/h, the maximum scope is 637 km and the maximum flight time is 3 hours 30 min (using standard fuel tanks). The chopper holds up to 12 people, including 2 pilots. In the combat version it can be utilized to transport soldiers in hard terrain and conditions of limited visibility, fire support (machinecarbines 7.62–12.7 mm, PPK Spike), medical evacuation or peculiar operations.
