Helikopter - Oppsiktsvekkende i Polen

Friday, October 31, 2014

Sikorsky Withdraws from Polish Multi-Role Helicopter Competition

By Andrew Drwiega, International Bureau Chief

Sikorsky, together with Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec, is to withdraw from the current competition managed by the Polish Ministry of Defense to supply its armed forces with 70 multi-role helicopters.

According to Sikorsky, part of United Technologies, the contract was written in such a way that “the technical, legal and economic terms set by the Ministry of National Defense preclude us from participating in the procurement procedure.” 

Sikorsky had put forward its S-70i Black Hawk, which is made in Poland, as the contender in the $3 billion (€1.89 billion) contract. Its competitors are Airbus Helicopters with the EC725 and AgustaWestland through PZL Świdnik offering its AW149. 

Reports from the Polish media have claimed that the government sees the letter as a “negotiation technique” and that it does not intend to modify the tender conditions.