Poland flies first domestically built AW149 helicopter
The first of 27 domestically built AW149s for the Polish Army made its maiden flight on 14 April. Three initial Italian-built helicopters have already been delivered and are in service. (PZL-Świdnik)
The first domestically built AW149 armed battlefield utility helicopter made its maiden flight at the PZL-Świdnik subsidiary facility, the Leonardo subsidiary announced on 24 April.
The event, which took place on 14 April, saw the first of 27 Polish-built AW149s conduct its first test flight ahead of further modification work and eventual delivery.
With 32 such helicopters ordered in 2022, the first three were built at Leonardo's Vergiate facility in Italy, being delivered and cleared for operational use by the Polish Army's 25th Air Cavalry Brigade in January 2024. Deliveries are scheduled to run until 2029.
The AW149 is replacing the Mil Mi-2 ‘Hoplite' and some PZL-Świdnik W-3PL Głuszec multirole battlefield helicopters, and will be armed with Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-surface missiles.
The acquisition is part of Poland's wider helicopter procurement plans that will see the country receive eight loaned US Army Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters ahead of the first of an anticipated 96 newbuild AH-64E helicopters, four maritime-roled Leonardo AW101 Merlins, 22 land-roled Merlins, and potentially 32 Lockheed Martin S-70i Black Hawk helicopters.
For more information on Poland's AW149 programme, please see Poland accepts first two AW149 helicopters .
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