Helicopters Leonardo Helicopters and PZL-Świdnik for the Polish Navy

Leonardo and PZL-Świdnik plan to further develop the full capacity of helicopters in Świdnicki plants in cooperation with the Polish industry for the Polish Navy and the Polish Army.

The AW101 and AW159 helicopters prove their abilities and mutual interoperability by equipping the world's most powerful Navy; the Air Force of the Polish Navy will acquire AW101 helicopters while the AW159 is offered under Condor.

PZL-Świdnik, being a strategic partner of the Navy, wants to strengthen his position as a supplier to support the development of the fleet of Polish helicopters serving in the Baltic. Together with Leonardo Helicopters, PZL-Świdnik is able to secure all the needs of the Polish Navy in the field of the fleet of pilots, based on four priority development axes:

Marine rescue. Helicopters W-3 Anakonda are the backbone of the marine rescue capability in Poland. Developed and upgraded in Świdnik Anakondy full search and rescue duty over the Polish zone of responsibility in the Baltic, in all weather conditions, day and night. PZL-Świdnik is also working on launching the production line of the new Polish multipurpose helicopter based on the excellent AW139. The Polish variant of this helicopter, in a special version, could be a good solution for the Marine Aviation Brigade alongside the W-3 Anakonda helicopters.

Combating threats and combat rescue – from land bases. Polish Navy it will receive four powerful AW101 helicopters, a large part of which is formed in PZL-Świdnik. These helicopters will be were one of the primary weapons of the Navy, in particular in combating submarines.

According to our doctrinal assumptions, there is significant potential that the size of the AW101 helicopter fleet for the Polish Navy can be doubled at least, we want to be ready to meet this task.

Jacek Libucha, President of PZL-Świdnik 

Combating threats and strengthening exploratory capabilities – from ships. According to the previously expressed needs of MON, PZL-Świdnik, under Leonardo Helicopters offers a helicopter AW159 to perform tasks from ships currently equipped with the Navy. As a specialized multitasking marine helicopter, AW159 is designed to perform tasks from the ship's deck under the most demanding conditions, up to the state of the sea 6. The experience of the most powerful Navy also confirms the excellent interoperability of this helicopter with the AW101 helicopter in the implementation of naval and amphibious missions.

Identifying and securing unmanned systems. Together with Leonardo Helicopters, PZL-Świdnik develops the capabilities of an optionally piloted SW-4 Solo helicopter and a specialized unmanned AWHero platform. The capabilities and functions of these unmanned workers were demonstrated during the first OCEAN 2020 trials and will be repeated in the current year in the Baltic. During OCEAN 2020, increased situational awareness in the marine environment was demonstrated through the integration of unmanned platforms with marine units, satellite and communication networks and national command and control centres.

PZL-Świdnik, based on his 70-year experience in the design, development and production of helicopters, as well as the competences of Leonardo Helicopters, is ready to take on challenges to make the technology a strong weapon of the Polish Navy.

Jacek Libucha, President of PZL-Świdnik

Source: Leonardo