Airbus Helicopters eyes Polish military opportunities

Airbus Helicopters has used the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Poland to tout its Tiger HAD attack helicopter and multi-mission EC725 Caracal helicopter as solutions for Polish military helicopter requirements.

The Polish Ministry of Defence is seeking 70 multi-role helicopters for the Polish Army and 32 attack helicopters as part of a wider programme to modernise its military helicopter capabilities.

Airbus Helicopters believes that the EC725 and Tiger HAD aircraft are a good match for requirements.

The EC725 Caracal is capable of performing a wide range of missions, including special operations, combat search and rescue, tactical transport and medical evacuation; while the Tiger HAD’s growing success in the attack helicopter market was highlighted, with the aircraft already in the military inventories of such NATO countries as France, Germany and Spain, along with Australia. In addition to operations in Afghanistan the attack helicopter has seen service in Libya and Mali operations.

The company was also keen to stress the helicopters’ ability to operate in tandem, drawing attention to feedback of the French Army Aviation’s operational deployment.

General Olivier de la Motte, head of French Army Aviation, said: ‘The two aircraft were efficient and complementary in Afghanistan and Mali. They are perfectly adapted to the modern and asymmetric wars we face today.’

Guillaume Faury, president, Airbus Helicopters, said: ‘The EC725 and Tiger HAD are modern, and battle-proven, having shown their full capabilities in real combat situations. In addition to offering these high-performance rotorcraft to Poland, Airbus Helicopters stands alone in proposing a comprehensive and integrated solution for the country’s needs from a single aircraft manufacturer, thereby providing a unique logistics system, and an unequalled industrial arrangement with Poland’s aviation sector.’

As part of Airbus Helicopters cooperation strategy in Poland, the company signed a cooperation accord at MSPO Expo with the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone in Gdańsk, broadening the scope of collaboration with the Gdańsk University of Technology (GUT). Collaborative research activities under this cooperation agreement are focused on diagnostic activities in the sector of Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) for helicopters, with the aim of finding breakthrough technologies that can be quickly developed to supply extra value to customers.

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