PZL Mielec in MON plans

The second subject raised was the future of M28 aircraft. Kapinos wanted to know erstwhile the analysis of their adaptation to combat unmanned aircraft would end and whether the ministry had secured adequate backing for this purpose.

New opportunities for Bryza

Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda assured that M28 Bryza aircraft will be upgraded. He informed that an agreement had already been concluded concerning, among others, the installation of the CRPA anti-interference antenna strategy and systems enabling precise positioning. “The agreement is complemented by the improvement of method newsletters – plan and operation – as well as training of military flying and method personnel,” explained Bejda. The Deputy Minister besides informed of the conclusion of the aircraft modification procedure for combating drones. The contractor of this task will be PZL Mielec. “The task will be financed under the method modernisation plan,” added the Deputy Head of the Defence Ministry. At the same time, he stated that the detailed scope of the amendments was covered by the protection of classified information.

MON besides plans to proceed service cooperation with PZL Mielec. The Deputy Chief of the Ministry reported that the current contract for operating respective twelve AN-28 and M28 aircraft was in force until the end of that year, and the Ministry intends to conclude another, covering the years 2027–2030.

Helicopters for firefighters and medics

– PZL Mielec is simply a proven partner. It guarantees the transportation and maintenance of modern equipment for soldiers, but besides the maintenance of thousands of specialized jobs," said Paweł Bejda. At the same time, he explained that decisions concerning the acquisition of helicopters are due to changes in the priorities of the General Staff of the Polish Army. Currently, among the indicated needs are training and combat helicopters, multi-tasking on-board marine helicopters, dense transport helicopters and search and rescue machines.

Although at present, MON does not plan to acquisition further The Black Hawks for the Army, Deputy Minister Bejda reported on possible fresh uses of the S-70 construction. 1 of the considered directions is to usage the Firehawk version of machines to extinguish fires. MON wants to discuss this with the ministries of home affairs and administration, agriculture and infrastructure. – specified helicopters would surely strengthen the capabilities of the Fire defender and State Forests, but they could besides be sent to the Polish army. The same applies to Black Hawk helicopters in MedEvac version, i.e. for medical evacuation," said Deputy Minister Bejda. – If the military considers that both S-70 Firehawk and S-70 MedEvac are needed, we will search ways to get them from PZL Mielec as shortly as possible," he added. He noted that the possible acquisition of specified machinery for the army would depend on the needs set by the General Staff.

In the context of the future of the largest aviation companies in Poland, belonging to Lockheed Martin, Paweł Bejda ensured that the ministry wanted to build a strong, modern and unchangeable defence manufacture in Poland. In the eyes of the MON, PZL Mielec is 1 of the key links of the logistics and service support strategy of Polish military aircraft platforms. “The Mielec plant is not only a assembly, it is simply a full-fledged production plant, whose business model was not created to meet the needs of exclusively Polish armed forces, so its products are exported to the world, and Poland is 1 of the beneficiaries,” said the Deputy Head of the Defence Ministry.

He recalled that S-70i Black Hawk helicopters produced in Poland were exported to the Philippines, Romania, Colombia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and another countries. The Polish military bought 8 specified helicopters. S-70i Black Hawk are besides utilized by the Polish Police.