As part of its acquisition program to strengthen its helicopter fleet, Poland has announced its decision to postpone plans to purchase 32 new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to equip its Armed Forces. The helicopters were to be manufactured by PZL Mielec (a subsidiary of the U.S. company Lockheed Martin), under an agreement reached in 2023. According to official sources from the Ministry of Defense, the decision is based on the need to reassess the actual utility of the platforms in today’s combat environments, especially in light of a potential future conflict with Russia.
Referencing some of the statements made by Paweł Bejda, current Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense, during a recent press conference: “Contrary to what some media are reporting and what some opposition politicians claim, we have not canceled any contract related to the S-70i helicopters (…) The geopolitical situation, the situation in the east—the war in Ukraine, what Russia is currently purchasing and how it is equipping its military—and everything our air forces are doing in missions related to the NATO system, is being analyzed by the Polish Army General Staff, our pilots, specialists, and experts.”
In that regard, the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, General Wiesław Kukuła, stated that the country will shift its focus to acquiring new training helicopters, as well as naval helicopters for SAR missions and heavy transport helicopters. Like Secretary Bejda, General Kukuła explained that this is due to a change in the priorities of the Polish forces, based on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.
The Polish government’s decision has not been free of criticism, as the program was initiated under a previous administration now part of the political opposition—namely, the Law and Justice party (PiS). One of its prominent representatives, former defense minister and current MP Mariusz Błaszczak, described the change in direction as a “disgrace” and warned about the risks of delaying the incorporation of these platforms. Lockheed Martin, for its part, stated that it hopes to maintain its partnership with Poland, which also includes F-16 fighter jets and supports around 1,700 jobs through PZL Mielec.
Finally, it is worth noting that other arms acquisition programs for the Polish Armed Forces are not expected to face the same issues as the helicopter deal. As Secretary Bejda clarified: “Soon, F-35 aircraft and AH-64 helicopters will land on Polish soil, the Miecznik vessel will enter service, and we are also taking into account the progress we have made so far in acquiring a modern helicopter fleet, which is already in operation in the Armed Forces.”
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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