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Fonte ..... "Poland launches attack helicopter acquisition" .....AgustaWestland – already present in Poland through its PZL Świdnik subsidiary – is expected to offer the AW129 .....
A tale gara partecipa anche lo AW149 che, soltanto pochi giorni fa, ha ricevuto la certificazione militare .....Warsaw is already running a keenly-contested competition for a tri-service order of 70 multi-role transport helicopters and this latest move will only intensify airframers' interest in the country.
Fonte ..... "Farnborough 2014: AgustaWestland marks AW149 type certification" .....AgustaWestland marked the military type certification of its AW149 multirole helicopter at Farnborough on 15 July with an official ceremony attended by Mauro Moretti, chief executive officer and general manager of parent company Finmeccanica, along with senior representatives from the Italian military authorities.
Fonte ..... "Italian Minister of Defence, Roberta Pinotti, visits AgustaWestland plant in Poland" .....PZL-Świdnik and AgustaWestland offer the AW149 model responding to the Polish Ministry of Defence’s tender for the supply of 70 multirole helicopters .....
Fonte ..... "Poland delays deadline for bids on 70-helicopter deal" .....Poland has postponed by a month the deadline for final submissions on its 70-unit tri-service helicopter acquisition, at the request of two of the three bidders.
However, the nation’s defence ministry declines to identify which of Airbus Helicopters, AgustaWestland and Sikorsky asked for the extension.
Fonte ..... "Sikorsky, Airbus, AW Bid For Polish Helo Deal" .....Poland's Ministry of Defense has obtained three offers in its much-awaited tender to acquire some 70 new helicopters for the country's armed forces.
The bidders include Airbus Helicopters, Sikorsky, and PZL-Swidnik, a Poland-based subsidiary of AgustaWestland.
Particolarmente interessanti le contropartite offerte da AW .....As expected, three bidders will fight it out in a contest to supply 70 multirole helicopters to Poland’s armed forces.
Warsaw on 30 December confirmed that consortia led by Airbus Helicopters, PZL Swidnik – the Polish subsidiary of AgustaWestland – and Sikorsky had all submitted bids to the nation’s defence ministry.
.Shortly before the defence ministry’s announcement, AgustaWestland clarified the offsets it has proposed, which it says are worth around €800 million ($954 million).
L'articolo ..... "Final bids in for Polish helicopter competition" .....Initially Poland was seeking just 26 new helicopters, 16 multirole transport variants, six search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopters (split into three land and three maritime SAR variants), and four ASW helicopters.
However, only six months after the tender was first launched in March 2012 the Polish government significantly expanded the programme in September 2012 to 70 helicopters (48 transport, 16 SAR, and 6 ASW).
While Poland had been eventually expected to purchase more than 26 utility helicopters after 2022, this marked a major expansion of its immediate capability expansion efforts.
Fonte ..... "Poland selects H225M for tri-service helicopter deal" .....Poland has selected the Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal for its tri-service rotorcraft acquisition, but has trimmed the overall requirement from 70 down to 50 units.
Warsaw says the 11t-class helicopter will now perform “verification checks” in late May and June to ensure its suitability for the intended missions.
Fonte ..... "Warsaw details reasons behind H225M selection" .....Offsets played a key role on the decision, he says, with Airbus Helicopters meeting 71 of the 105 criteria, while AgustaWestland could only fulfil 41 and Sikorsky 50.
In addition, says Mroczek, Sikorsky’s offer of the S-70i Black Hawk/S-70B Seahawk did not include the cost of weapon systems, and AgustaWestland and its local subsidiary PZL Swidnik could only begin deliveries of the AW149 within four years of the contract signing, rather than two as stipulated
Fonte ..... "Poland begins evaluation tests of H225M Caracal" .....Poland has commenced performance verification tests of the Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal as part of its effort to acquire a total of 50 new rotorcraft for all three branches of its armed forces.
Conducted at its 33rd air transport base in Powidz, the trials are the final step in the evaluation process ahead of a likely contract signing later this year, assuming the 11t-class helicopter meets the claims of its manufacturer.
Fonte ..... "PZL-Świdnik launches legal fight over Polish helicopter deal" .....PZL-Świdnik has launched a legal action in an attempt to overturn the nation’s recent selection of rival Airbus Helicopters for a 50-rotorcraft deal.
Poland’s defence ministry in April picked the H225M Caracal ahead of the Polish AgustaWestland subsidiary’s offer of the AW149 and Sikorsky’s S-70i Black Hawk/S-70B Seahawk for the tri-service requirement.
It claims that the criteria used for the contest were “questionable” and is now seeking to have the award annulled without any bidder being selected.
In its lawsuit, filed to the Warsaw district court, PZL-Świdnik claims that the country’s defence ministry committed “serious violations” during the tender process, including last-minute rule changes and “violations of laws relating to offset”.
Fonte ..... "AgustaWestland CEO defends Polish legal action" ....Daniele Romiti, chief executive of AgustaWestland, is standing by its decision to launch legal action challenging the Polish defence ministry’s decision to award a 50-unit rotorcraft order to its European rival, Airbus Helicopters.
AgustaWestland, in conjunction with its Polish subsidiary, PZL Swidnik, had offered its new AW149 for the tri-service contest, but lost out to the H225M Caracal.
On 19 June, PZL Swidnik announced that it had started court action in a bid to get the award overturned.
Romiti says its proposal – which also promised to make PZL Swidnik the lead facility for AW149 development – was the only one to offer a new-generation helicopter.
“Investing in old platforms does not make sense in the long term,” he says.
Fonte ..... "Poland threatens to cancel H225M helicopter deal" .....Poland’s newly appointed defence minister, Antoni Macierewicz, has raised fresh doubts about Warsaw’s proposed acquisition of 50 Airbus Helicopters H225M rotorcraft for its armed forces.
The 11t Caracal was chosen for a tri-service requirement by the nation’s previous government in April and negotiations with the manufacturer had been progressing prior to the change of administration following October elections.
However, speaking during a meeting of the parliamentary defence committee on 25 November, Macierewicz – a long-standing critic of the H225M’s selection – again raised the prospect of re-opening the contest.
Fonte ..... "Airbus Helicopters promises to clarify offset offer for Poland" .....Airbus Helicopters has attempted to defuse an increasingly tense situation in Poland, with the selection of its H225M Caracal for a 50-unit order potentially at stake.
In recent weeks, Antoni Macierewicz, appointed Polish defence minister in the wake of October elections, has criticised the selection of the H225M and threatened to reopen a tender if offset conditions were not sufficiently generous.
In a media statement, Airbus Helicopters chief executive Guillaume Faury says the company stands “ready to move forward as soon as possible” in negotiations with Warsaw’s development ministry on its proposed contribution to the nation’s economy.
Fonte ..... "Poland issues fresh threats over H225M order" .....Poland’s defence ministry has issued fresh threats to cancel a tentative deal with Airbus Helicopters for the supply of 50 H225M Caracal multi-role helicopters.
Quoted in the Rzeczpospolita newspaper, deputy minister of defence Bartosz Kownacki said both parties had until 10 February to reach an agreement over industrial offsets or the deal could be cancelled.
In April 2015 Warsaw selected the H225M for the tri-service order ahead of offers from PZL Mielec and PZL Swidnik, local subsidiaries of Sikorsky and AgustaWestland, respectively.
Fonte ..... "Poland in Talks With France, Airbus Over Caracal Helicopters" .....Poland is negotiating with both France and Airbus Helicopters for a technology transfer on a planned order of 50 Caracal military transport helicopters, according to sources close to the deal.
“The discussions are going on,” said a French defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“They are extremely active.”
Talks on the technology transfer are crucial as they will allow local industry to assemble the utility helicopter, which Poland picked over competing offers from Leonardo-Finmeccanica and Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky.
The Polish Ministry of Defence selected the Caracal, but the country's Ministry of Development is now negotiating with Airbus Helicopters on the technology transfer.
Fonte ..... "Airbus Helicopters edges closer to Polish H225M deal" .....Airbus Helicopters believes it is close to finalising an order with Poland for 50 H225M rotorcraft – some 18 months after the Caracal was provisionally selected for the tri-service deal.
Warsaw initially selected the 11t type in April 2015 – ahead of rival bids from Leonardo and Sikorsky – but negotiations became bogged down following a change of government later that year.
The deal has now been cleared by the nation’s defence ministry, and Airbus Helicopters is thrashing out the details of its offset package with the Polish ministry of development.
Fonte ..... "Polish Requirements Generate New Interest at Local Trade Show" .....Airbus Helicopters flew an H225M Caracal to the MSPO military trade show in Poland this week, still uncertain whether that country will confirm the purchase of 50 of them.
Exhibitors were also eyeing other long-standing requirements, such as attack helicopters and armed unmanned aircraft systems.
On the eve of the show, the Polish ministry of defense issued an RFP for five VIP transport aircraft.
Fonte ..... "Bidders line up for Polish attack helicopter requirement" .....Bell Helicopter has underscored its potential for industrial co-operation with Poland’s defence and aerospace industries as it readies itself to answer a requirement for attack helicopters.
Warsaw has been gearing up to replace the Mil Mi-24s operated by the Polish land forces under its Kruk programme, with a request for proposals due shortly.
Bell intends to offer the AH-1Z Viper to Poland and has used 2016 to deepen its links with the nation’s industry.
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Another likely contender for the Kruk requirement is the Boeing AH-64E Apache, which was displayed at MSPO.
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Bell and Boeing will face competition for the attack requirement from the Airbus Helicopters Tiger and TAI T-129.
Fonte ..... "Poland breaks off negotiations with Airbus Helicopters over military tender" .....Poland’s Development Ministry ended negotiations over an offset deal with Airbus Helicopters, which had been one of the conditions for Poland’s purchase of 50 aircraft.
“Differences in the negotiating stances of both sides prevented us from arriving at a compromise, as a result of which conducting further talks is now pointless,” the Ministry said in a statement.
The previous Civic Platform-led government chose to purchase 50 ‘Eurocopter’ EC725 helicopters for a price of PLN 13.5 billion (EUR 3.2 billion) in April 2015, rejecting rival offers from the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and AgustaWestland PZL Świdnik.
Fonte ..... "Poland ends H225M contract talks" .....That decision leaves the way open for Leonardo and Sikorsky, and their respective local subsidiaries PZL Swidnik and PZL Mielec, to fight it out for the order.
Leonardo had proposed the AgustaWestland AW149 for the requirement, while Sikorsky proposed a split buy of the S-70i Black Hawk and S-70B Seahawk – although the latter was to be manufactured in the USA.
Airbus Helicopters says: "We are aware of the statement but we have no further comment at this stage."
..... anche se .......... all three branches of Poland’s armed forces still require new helicopters and its defence ministry has wasted little time in pushing business towards PZL Mielec, which assembles the S-70i Black Hawk for the international market.
During a visit to the firm’s assembly facility, defence minister Antoni Macierewicz said it would work to quickly finalise a deal for S-70is for operation by Polish special forces.
Fonte ..... "Poland picks Black Hawks after end of H225M talks" .....Macierewicz says that it hopes to conclude further agreements “as soon as possible” with Polish industry for multirole helicopters.
That also potentially opens the door to Leonardo’s Polish subsidiary PZL Swidnik, which had also been lobbying hard for the AgustaWestland AW149 to be considered instead of the Caracal.
“This matter is extremely urgent and necessary,” says Macierewisz, who says that the acquisition will be “open and will be available, of course, for all manufacturers”.
However, he does not rule out placing sole-source contracts rather than running a competitive tender and is analysing both options.
Fonte ..... "Airbus Helicopters hits out over 'misleading allegations' in Poland" .....Airbus Helicopters has delivered an angry response to the Polish government and its rivals accusing them of spreading “misleading allegations” over the collapse of a multi-billion dollar order for multirole helicopters.
Warsaw at the beginning of October announced that negotiations with the manufacturer had come to an end after the parties failed to agree an offset deal equal to the value of the contract for 50 H225M Caracals.
Fonte ..... "Airbus Helicopters Responds To Polish H225M Cancellation" .....In an “open letter to the Polish Prime Minister,”Airbus Helicopters chief executive officer Guillaume Faury today provided a long account of the failed offset negotiations for 50 H225M Caracal medium multirole helicopters.
The Polish government ended the year-long talks last week and held a press conference to explain the decision.
The H225M had been selected in April 2015 to replace the Polish Army’s large fleet of Mil Mi-8/17s, in preference to the Leonardo AW149 or Sikorsky S-70i BlackHawk.
Poland said yesterday it would place a smaller order for the S-70i.
Fonte ..... "France Withdraws Euronaval Invitation to Polish Officials" .....France has withdrawn an invitation to a delegation of Polish officials for the upcoming Euronaval trade show, reflecting anger over Warsaw’s cancellation of contract talks for the Caracal military transport helicopter, a government source said Thursday.
The government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed a media report the authorities had withdrawn the invitation to the naval exhibition.
The Polish delegation had been among the national teams expected at Euronaval, which runs Oct. 17-21 at Le Bourget exhibition center in France.
Fonte ..... "Poland continues multi-pronged attack on French: 'we taught them to use forks'" .....Poland’s deputy defence minister has claimed that Poles taught the French how to use forks as a diplomatic row rages over the handling of a failed multi-billion euro helicopter deal.
Bartosz Kownacki was speaking after France withdrew the Polish delegation’s invitation to a Euronaval industry fair in Paris next week amid tension over the breakdown in talks aimed at Poland buying Airbus choppers.
“The French side officially invited us a long time ago and now they are showing us the door,” Kownacki said on the TVN24 private news channel.
“But these are the people we taught to eat with a fork a couple of centuries ago, which may explain their behaviour today.”
Fonte ..... "Airbus Group to seek 'remedies' from Poland over collapsed H225M deal" .....Airbus Group has confirmed that it will seek compensation from Poland for the cancellation of a 50-unit order for H225M multirole helicopters.
Subsidiary Airbus Helicopters had been working on the tender for at least four years before the selection of the Caracal in April 2015.
Fonte: DefenseNews ..... "Poland to acquire Black Hawks, select helicopter supplier" .....Poland's armed forces are to acquire 16 new helicopters this year, according to the country's defense minister.
Half will go to Poland’s special forces and the remainder to the Navy.
The aircraft will include two Black Hawk helos, and the remaining 14 will be selected among offers that were submitted by Lockheed Martin, Leonardo and Airbus Helicopters, Antoni Macierewicz told local news outlet Polish Press Agency.
"I was told that [the two Black Hawks] will be delivered this March," Macierewicz said.
"All the paperwork had to be consulted across the Atlantic. This significantly delayed the procedure.”
Fonte: FlightGlobal ..... "Poland speeds acquisition of 16 helicopters" .....Poland has begun negotiations with three bidders as it looks to acquire 16 helicopters – eight for special forces missions and eight for anti-submarine warfare and maritime search and rescue operations.
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Airbus Helicopters is likely to again pitch its Caracal for both requirements; Leonardo will offer the AgustaWestland AW149 to the special forces and AW101 for naval missions; while Sikorsky will bid the S-70i Black Hawk and S-70B Seahawk for the respective contests.
Fonte: DefenseNews ..... "Poland invites Airbus Helicopters to bid on military helo tender, says industry exec" .....Airbus Helicopters has just received documents from the Polish Defence Ministry inviting the company to take part in a tender for 16 military helicopters, according to an industry executive.
“The documents arrived yesterday evening,” the executive said Tuesday.
The documents, which are in Polish and undergoing translation, look like a request for information to deliver eight helicopters for the Polish special forces and eight for the Polish Navy, the executive added.
