Schiebel

David Oliver

Under the Harpia programme, the remaining upgraded Sukhoi Su-22UM3Ks will be replaced within the next five years.

the Armament Inspectorate has failed to start the formal tender procedure, and in the meantime, there are repeatedly changing priorities and technical requirements for the project.

The Polish Army Aviation’s Mi-24D/ Mi-24V fleet currently numbers 28 aircraft comprising 13 Mi-24V/Ws and 14 Mi-24Ds operated by two squadrons assigned to the 56th Air Base at Inowroclaw-Latkowo and a third at the 49th Air Base at Pruszec Gdanski. The Polish defence industry proposed a comprehensive upgrade to including a new integrated avionics system with head-up and multi-function displays, the Rafael Toplite electro-optical/infrared sensor turret and new defensive aide suite (DAS) equipment. In October 2020 Poland confirmed that only the Mi-24 weapons system would include NATO standard munitions, including Rafael Spike air- to-surface missiles, the Piorun air-to-air missile, new rocket launchers and 12.7mm machine guns.

The tender was expected to finally be launched in 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the MND to once again postpone the Kruk programme competition. After an assessment is made on the fatigue life of the Mi-24 airframes, the MND will decide if the fleet will be cycled through an affordable upgrade of their avionics and weapons system which could be launched in 2022 but with first deliveries expected no earlier than 2024. This has left the Army Aviation with the no answer to the question about when it might receive new combat helicopters which are needed to significantly enhance its operational and combat capabilities and also allow for the development of new tactics for enhanced cooperation with various types of units on the modern battlefield.

The Army Aviation’s ageing Mi-2, Mi-8/17s and PZL W-3M Sokol medium helicopters, a total fleet of more than 100 aircraft, are to be replaced under the Perkoz programme. The H225M had been selected in April 2015 to replace the Polish Army’s large fleet of Mil Mi-8s in preference to the Leonardo AW149 or the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk. The contract awarded to Airbus was for 50 Caracal helicopters worth $3.5 billion but in October 2016 the Polish government abandoned plans to buy the 50 Caracal helicopters claiming that the proposed contract was not in the country's economic and security interests.

The Perkoz programme has been reinstated and bidders could include PZL-Świdnik/Leonardo with the AW169M or AW149, PZL Mielec/Lockheed Martin with the S-70i Black Hawk and Airbus with the H145M. Bell announced that it intended to offer Poland its H-1 family aircraft, the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and UH-1Y Venom multi-role medium helicopter, for a number of the country’s procurement programmes, including Perkoz and Kruk. The manufacturer stated that this duo had recently been selected by the Czech Armed Forces, which procured four Viper and eight Venom helicopters.

The Polish Armaments Inspectorate planned to select a number of offers to receive a RfI, and be subsequently invited to participate in the Technical Dialogue Procedure (TDP), which should have been finalised by December 2021. However, in March 2021 the TDP for the in Perkoz programme was indefinitely suspended. As a consequence, a need will emerge for the Army Aviation’s existing fleets of W-3, Mi-8, or Mi-2 rotary-wing platforms to extend their service life.

The Kondor programme was launched in December 2019 by the Polish Armaments Inspectorate to replace the Polish Navy’s four Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite shipboard anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters. The programme’s goal is to acquire four to eight multi-role helicopters with a maximum take-off weight of no more than 14,300lb (6,500kg), capable of performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW)

Leonardo

Leonardo will offer the M-346FA, seen here in Polish markings, as a cost effective multi-role fighter aircraft to replace the Su-22.