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Story of the Week

PZL Takes Wraps Off SW-4 Optionally Piloted Helicopter

Poland-based AgustaWestland subsidiary PZL-Swidnik SA introduced its SW-4 “Solo” helicopter program on Tuesday during the 20th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Europe. The prototype is what the company calls a “Rotorcraft Unmanned Air System/Optionally Piloted Helicopter” (RUAS/OPH).

The company plans to market the aircraft—designed for both land and maritime missions—as a multi-role platform capable of a wide variety of homeland and battlefield missions.

In the manned pilot mode, the light, single-engine RUAS/OPH can transport a pilot and four passengers, the same as its manned-only predecessor the SW-4 Maluch.

Photo courtesy AgustaWestland

In the manned pilot mode, the light, single-engine RUAS/OPH can transport a pilot and four passengers, the same as its manned-only predecessor the SW-4 Maluch. In unmanned mode, Swidnik reports that it can perform surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance, environment monitoring, ground survey, and cargo-carrying missions.