AgustaWestland signs Polish offset MoUs

AgustaWestland has signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with partners in Poland as it seeks to strengthen its industrial relationships with Polish industry.

The Polish armed forces is seeking to acquire 70 multirole helicopters, and AgustaWestland has proposed its AW149 helicopter for the programme. These MoU cover offset proposals, worth nearly €800 million, are a central aspect of AgustaWestland and its Polish subsidiary, PZL-Świdnik’s, bid.

Four Polish Armaments Group companies have signed the MoU: Fabryka Broni Radom (Radom Arms Factory); Military Aviation Works no 1 in Łódź (WZL1); Military Aviation Works no 2 in Bydgoszcz (WZL2); and ZM Tarnów.

AgustaWestland’s proposal for the Polish industry provides for the implementation of over 50 offset projects involving nearly 25 foreign partners, who will cooperate with close to 20 Polish enterprises representing 60% of Polish defence industry for the AW149 programme.

The agreement with Fabryka Broni Radom covers the implementation of an offset project to produce helicopter structure subassemblies. Cooperation with WZL1 covers the establishment of an MRO centre with technical support and training to be provided by PZL-Świdnik, as well as the implementation of an offset project to perform overhauls of helicopter components including the main rotor hub, blades, airframe, the APU and engines. The WZL2 offset project provides for performing MRO activities on a wide range of electronic systems, power generators, flight data recorders, landing gear components, hoists and electronic warfare systems.

The ZM Tarnów offset project covers the production of weapons and weapon systems, as well as ammunition pods and weapon mounting systems for the AW149 helicopter, as well as their ongoing maintenance, including MRO services in the future.

If the AW149 helicopter is selected for the multirole helicopter programme, a global production and development centre for the AW149 will be established in Świdnik to satisfy the requirements of the programme, while also opening up potential export opportunities for the AW149.