Poland reveals plan to buy AW149 helos in deal potentially worth over $1B

ROME — Poland plans to buy AW149 helicopters, the defense ministry said Monday, with one Italian bank estimating the order could be worth €1.1 billion (U.S. $1.15 billion) to manufacturer Leonardo.

“In the near future we will sign contracts for the supply of mine destroyers ... AW149 multi-role support helicopters, two observation satellites and tank destroyers,” according to a tweet from the ministry, which cited Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak.

Polish news portal Defence24 reported the order will include 32 helicopters, with assembly handled in Poland by PZL-Świdnik, which is controlled by Leonardo. It also reported Poland will acquire the helicopters in three different formats: combat support; command; and reconnaissance and electronic warfare.

Italian brokerage Banca Akros on Tuesday estimated the contract value, which it said is equivalent to about 7.7% of Leonardo’s expected 2022 orders.

A medium-lift, multirole helicopter launched in 2006, AW149 customers include Thailand and Egypt. Leonardo is currently marketing the type to the United Kingdom.

The AW149 previously lost to the Airbus H225M in a bid to supply helicopters to Poland; the purchase was ultimately scrapped.

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

罗马——波兰国防部周一表示，波兰计划购买 AW149 直升机，一家意大利银行估计，这笔订单对制造商莱昂纳多公司来说价值可能高达 11 亿欧元（11.5 亿美元）。

据国防部推特消息，国防部长马里乌什·布拉什恰克表示：“在不久的将来，我们将签署供应扫雷艇、AW149多用途支援直升机、两颗观测卫星和坦克歼击车的合同。”

波兰新闻门户网站Defence24报道称，波兰将订购32架直升机，由莱昂纳多集团旗下的PZL-Świdnik公司在波兰组装。报道还称，波兰将采购三种不同型号的直升机：作战支援型、指挥型以及侦察和电子战型。

意大利经纪公司 Banca Akros 周二估计了该合同的价值，称其相当于 Leonardo 预计 2022 年订单量的约 7.7%。

AW149是一款中型多用途直升机，于2006年推出，其客户包括泰国和埃及。莱昂纳多公司目前正在向英国推销该机型。

AW149 此前在竞标向波兰供应直升机的项目中败给了空客 H225M；最终该笔采购被取消。

汤姆·金顿是《防务新闻》驻意大利记者。