Poland buying Army helicopters

[Heli-News]

The Armament Inspectorate of Poland has released news that negotiations relating to the purchase of 70 helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces has begun.

The companies which have entered the bid are:

- Sikorsky International Operations
- Sikorsky Aircraft Corporations in partnership with PZL
- Eurocopter SAS in partnership with Heli Invest Services
- PZL-Świdnik (whose major shareholder is Agusta Westland)

The 70 helicopter requirement will be distributed among the Polish forces as follows:

Army - 48 units
Air Force - 10 units
Navy - 12 units (6 SAR & 6 ASW)

Poland Buying Army Helicopters - Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-poland-buying-army-helicopters-2013-7)

[JohnDixson]

It will be interesting to read the design requirements in so far as ballistic vulnerability and survivability. Based upon experiences in Vietnam, the Army included a number of serious requirements that the UTTAS competitors had to address in their designs, in both areas. After the UH-60 won, and was later upgraded in numerous areas, those requirements still applied. Thus, as one example, when the main blade design was changed from a Ti spar and the remainder composite, to a wider chord, fully composite structure, all of the 23 MM ballistic testing had to be repeated and passed. Not insignificant " stuff ".

[Milo C]

Interesting competition.
At this point I'd bet for the S70i. It's made in Poland, very versatile for Army, Navy and Air Force. Real missions proved. I cannot find any weakness for this helicopter.
I don't believe the EC725 will have any chance.
I'm just wondering how the AW149 will perform. It's totally unknown, but that can also be an advantage. Brand new technology. Will it be made or assembled in Poland? Will AW-Swidnik offer something additional like a training center, simulator or similar...?
I have no idea about the political issues around this contract but it seems to be made for Sikorsky...even the number of units..70. And in the end, Sikorsky is a polish surname...:)

[ARRAKIS]

The competition is for Mi-8/14/17 replacement. The entire process is running for months, or in fact years. It's started with 26 helicopters and was, wisely, changed to 70. The final numbers should reach in the years to come 90-100. At least according to the plans today.

AW was chosen as the NHI representative for Poland, to offer the NH90, but surprise, surprise, they presented the AW149, forcing EC to a last minute EC725 solution.

IMHO,
two of the competitors are just too small (one of them being additionally a prototype). The final choice will be - I'm affraid - more political than technical.


Arrakis

[Ian Corrigible]

Poland rumored to have selected the S-70i for its tri-service medium-lift utility helicopter tender.

An helicopter tender in Poland lost by Finmeccanica, in favor of Sikorsky? (http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1166800&pagina_chiamante=index.php)

I/C

[Ian Corrigible]

Contrary to the previous rumor, Poland has selected the H225M (/EC725) Caracal for its $3 billion, 70 aircraft Army requirement:

Europe's Airbus wins Polish chopper deal: report (http://news.yahoo.com/europes-airbus-wins-polish-chopper-deal-report-091305976.html)

This follows the recent selection (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/54476-ec155-8.html#post8904026) of the H155 (/EC155 B1) for the $1.5 billion (http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150415000838) South Korean LCH/LAH program, which involves 200 aircraft for the South Korean Army alone.

Useful wins for the company, given the civil market softness seen in 2014.

I/C

[HeliHenri]

.
Thanks for the news I/C

Surprisingly, Guillaume Faury (AH CEO) was not very optimistic 3 months ago.
.

[ARRAKIS]

A few corrections.
The number has been reduced from 70 to 50:
8 ASW
8 for SOF
5 MEDEVAC
13 C/SAR
16 transport.

Could be more in the years to come.

The choice was logical from the 3 competitors.
Nothing signed yet, and anything could happen after the elections in October given the actual hysteria in some local medias.

Arrakis

[Lonewolf_50]

AB helicopters info sheet says 225 is 11 metric tonne helicopter.
That's very similar to the max gross of 23,500 for a Blackhawk (external load) and 22,000 internal, but the top end of 24250 looks to be a slight edge ... depending upon how empty weights compare between the two.

Question for anyone who knows: is the powerplant on this version of the 225 (former 275) RR or another vendor?

[Ian Corrigible]

Lonewolf:

Powerplant remains the Makila 2A1 (unless they choose to use the Makila 2B from the newest H225/EC225e).

(The only non-Turbomeca application in the Super Puma family is the KAI KUH-1 Surion (http://www.koreaaero.com/english/product/kuh.asp), which uses the hot-drive GE T700-701K.)

I/C

[Lonewolf_50]

Powerplant remains the Makila 2A1 (unless they choose to use the Makila 2B from the newest H225/EC225e).

(The only non-Turbomeca application in the Super Puma family is the KAI KUH-1 Surion (http://www.koreaaero.com/english/product/kuh.asp), which uses the hot-drive GE T700-701K.)
Thanks. On the logistics end T700 would make sense for the Koreans, with Blackhawk fleet they have.

[HeliHenri]

Yes and because this version, the T700/701K is co-developed with Samsung Techwin.