PRESS RELEASE – Agencja Uzbrojenia / MON – 26 April 2025
On April 14, 2025, the first AW149 of domestic production performed a test flight as part of the procedure for compliance of the helicopter with the design configuration, the so-called Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP). Further flight tests will be carried out in accordance with the art and schedule.
A new type of helicopter manufactured entirely in PZL-Świdnik, modern and resulting from the implementation of the latest, 21st-century technology and design techniques, is the most anticipated event in the PZLŚwidnik and the Polish aviation cluster.
The contract for 32 multi-role helicopters for the Polish military was signed in Świdnik on July 1, 2022, and less than a year after this date, the first helicopter left the final assembly line, then at the Italian Leonardo plant in Vergiate as part of an urgent need and to fulfill the provisions of the contract in a difficult geopolitical situation. It was then that the training of Polish PZL-Świdnik employees at specific positions in Leonardo could begin. In fact, from the very first helicopter intended for the Polish army, the national staff of PZL-Świdnik took part in the production.
Importantly, the implementation of the contract for the supply of AW149 for the Polish Army from the very beginning assumed the full production of these helicopters in Poland, along with the transfer of technology and the creation of production, repair and maintenance facilities.
“The implementation of the AW149 contract for the Polish military is an example of the excellent work done jointly by the Italian and Polish teams, the efficiency of the entire supply chain and, finally, the successful cooperation with the user. The combination of these factors contributed to the fact that the Polish military was able to start the training phase for this type of helicopter according to the schedule. The results of this cooperation give us the impetus to think about how we could best meet future helicopter programs for the Polish military, perhaps through similar initiatives,” said Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters.
“For all of us at PZL-Świdnik, April 14, 2025 is an extremely important date, marking another strategic achievement of the Świdnik plant. The new type of helicopter produced by PZL-Świdnik is an event that has been planned and expected for a long time. Today, by flight testing this world’s most modern helicopter in this weight category, we all have reason to be deeply satisfied with our work for the Polish army. There are more units ahead of us to produce, test in flight, and in the future service and, perhaps in accordance with the future needs of the military, also modernize them and integrate new systems – we already have full capabilities for all these activities,” said Jacek Libucha, President of PZL-Świdnik.
About the Author
