MSPO 2025 — In an attempt to entice Poland to buy its H145M training and multirole helicopters, Airbus Helicopters this week signed a cooperation agreement with the country’s largest defense contractor PGZ and several of its affiliates, dedicated to local maintenance services.
Airbus said in a statement that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today, timed to coincide with the MSPO trade show in Kielce, will “establish a framework” for the company, PGZ and Poland’s state-owned research and development firm ITWL to “collaborate on the maintenance and completion of the H145M at WZL1, integrating Polish capabilities” on the twin-engine rotorcraft. Additionally, the move will develop “new, sovereign defense capabilities for the Polish Armed Forces,” added Airbus.
Derived from the civil H145 helicopter, the H145M is capable of carrying out light attack, transport and utility, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and maritime security operations.
The new MoU would give local partners some of the workshare that is already divided three ways under a Polish H145M teaming plan, announced in May, which features Airbus (aircraft design and production), UK firm Babcock (support services) and Canada’s CAE (simulation requirements).
Ludovic Boistot, head of sales for Eastern Europe at Airbus Helicopters, told Breaking Defense ahead of the MoU signing that a potential localized H145M maintenance service hub in Poland could also be opened up to other countries across the region, including Ukraine.
He also said that any plans for integration of Polish weapon systems would “depend” on the needs of Warsaw, which has still to issue industry with full requirements for a new helicopter trainer.
Airbus and its collection of industry partners are leaning heavily forward with an offer for any future acquisition after the release of a market consultation last year.
“We are ready to receive [a comprehensive] request from them [Polish Ministry of National Defense]” and meet the criteria “as soon as possible,” added Boistot. Warsaw has communicated a need for 24 helicopters, he said, but stressed that could change “because there’s no requirement officially.”
As Poland works up a new 15 year capability plan, expected to be approved in the coming months, it remains to be seen if it will include a new rotary trainer program or not.
“The knowledge that they are preparing that [document] is not a secret,” Boistot explained.