Flying Apache is simply a simple thing. To fight utilizing this device is simply a much more complicated task – said Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski. The Head of the Air Force chopper Branch at the General Command of the Russian Army talks about how Polish pilots and technicians are doing in training in the US and what strength the best helicopters in the planet have in the field.
1st Army Air Force in Inowrocław counts the days until the arrival of the first AH-64D Apache. What is the task of these helicopters?
Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski: In June, the first 4 of Apache’s outlays will be delivered to Inowrocław. The next 4 will scope Poland in the last 4th of 2025. shortly Polish pilots will begin on these machines another phase of training, mainly tactical. They had already flown with weapons in the US, but it was basic training. Now it's time for advanced. The next step to achieving operational capacity will be, among another things, the cooperation of Apache crews with land troops.
So why does the military lease 8 Apache helicopters in the older Delta version?Since it's 3 years from now, he's going to usage the latest Echo models?
Purchase of 96 Apache AH-64E helicopters It's a large step for the air force. But leasing is besides important. With these 8 AH-64Ds we will be able to prepare well for the Apaches we are waiting for. At the same time, Polish pilots and technicians train in the US all the time. So erstwhile the acquisition of Apaches begins to scope us in 2028, our pilots will have respective 100 hours of raids on these helicopters. These will be experienced instructors, test pilots, which are the main strength of the fresh squad of specialists in the field of operation and piloting AH-64.
What is the substance of utilizing Apaches for joint operations with land troops? Is the Polish army doing anything about it?
Training in this area is inactive ahead of us, and it is surely not a substance of the next fewer months. However, the commanders of our divisions have already gained any experience thanks to their participation in the Polish Apache Summit, which took place a year ago in Inowrocław. This year we were in Germany in the American brigade, which is equipped with Apache. Our commanders of the ground troops are already aware of what is active in preparing helicopters for joint operations, how much additional personnel it takes to make all this work. The next step will be to gain cognition by the commanders on how to usage these helicopters. Flying Apache – this is simply a simple thing. Fight with this device – it's much more complicated.
What does that mean?
Apache AH-64E is the world's most modern helicopter. Poland bought it with comprehensive weapons – from weapon to air-to-air missiles. In addition, there is simply a data transmission strategy Link 16, a battlefield radar, which together give Apache's crew and another communication units immense opportunities. To fight, you gotta usage all the advantages of this platform. And that's the hardest part. There is no request to hide that the AH-64 pilot is very burdened with the amount of information that goes into the chopper systems. The pilot must know what to do with all this data, how to react, which weapons to usage at the moment. Apache thus offers large opportunities, but utilizing its full possible is challenging and powerful effort.
The first Polish teacher pilot has already been trained in the USA. Others proceed to study. Can they handle specified a demanding task?
Training at AH-64 in the US has so far included 20 Polish pilots, including 3 teacher pilots and 22 technicians. Others are besides to train there, but we will gradually build our strategy to accomplish the ability to train fresh pilots and technicians in Poland in a fewer years. This solution is already being utilized by the United Kingdom, while another users of AH-64, specified as the Netherlands or Australia, send their soldiers to courses in the US. As for current training, Poles are praised by the American side for coming well prepared. Of course, for our soldiers to start training on the AH-64 is simply a immense leap, due to the fact that they had never dealt with specified an advanced platform before. But each of them gives advice and the American side, which reports their advancement to me, has no objections to Polish students. Which is not a regulation at all, due to the fact that I know from the Americans that there have been various problems with pilots from another states' armed forces.
What is the current implementation of the full AH-64 programme for the Polish army? There were voices in the media that the policy of the fresh administration in the White home had an impact on this program.
Components for Polish Apaches are already collected, but their production will start as planned in 2027. Helicopters will be delivered to us from 2028 to 2032. The change in the seat of the president of the United States and the resulting turmoil did not in any way affect the implementation of the Polish AH-64 programme. I remind you that the Polish Army ordered 96 AH-64E helicopters Apache, which in terms of fleet size will make us the second, after the American Army, the user of these helicopters in the planet and the first in Europe.
This year, Apache exercises are scheduled to take place at the Ustka camp. Can you tell me what the script will look like?
Together with the American 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, which is stationed in Germany, and Rafael and I plan to launch 2 Spike NLOS missiles from the Apaches. To this end, the Americans will fly with 4 AH-64s in August to the Ustka field. The scope of these missiles is up to 50 km, which for helicopters is unimaginable. The missiles we've utilized so far have damaged the targets about 8 km away. During the August rehearsal, we want to rise this advanced limit at least 3 times. It will be a presentation to which AH-64 users from different countries will be invited. There will, of course, be our commanders who will be observing the fresh capabilities of the Polish Army. However, I note right distant – Poland did not buy specified missiles.
Let's get back to the subject of training. Is there no problem with uncovering a position for Apache technicians?
As I mentioned, 22 technicians were trained in the United States, and another group will be sent to the United States next year. We place a large deal of emphasis on getting young people after the commanding officer's school in Dęblin, who will service Polish Apache in the future. Each of them must, of course, talk English. Our task, therefore, is not only to get the people willing to leave, but besides to prepare them beforehand for language. They must pass the U.S. embassy exam before leaving for the US. abroad training starts with an eight-week language course, but during this time soldiers learn only specialized concepts and vocabulary, which is essential erstwhile studying a helicopter. In future, we will request hundreds of young technicians who will service our Apache for years.
Who's the perfect pilot candidate, AH-64 technique? How old should he be, how much experience?
I wouldn't generalize on that. We are presently betting on pilots with any experience, not freshly after officer's school. But we're already working with the 4th advanced School Flight Wing to adapt the program to the needs of AH-64. So that graduates Military Academy of Aviation They were already prepared for training at Apache.
What must change in the curriculum to make this work?
One of the conditions for starting training on AH-64 is the ability to fly a chopper day and night and with night imagination devices. Until now, this could only be learned erstwhile serving in the unit, but the fresh pilot training program developed in the 4th School Aviation Wing already takes this request into account.
We are waiting for the Polish Apache, looking at the war in Ukraine, where in the context of the air domain much more frequently talk about drones than helicopters. So the question is...
...does this acquisition make sense today? Definitely so, due to the fact that unmanned aircraft (BSP) do not meet all the requirements of the modern battlefield. Of course, we must admit that the function of BSP is increasing rapidly, but helicopters, aircraft are besides needed, due to the fact that unmanned aircraft alone cannot win the war. It is besides worth asking yourself, what does the presence of helicopters in the battlefield give sub-units of land troops? From my own experience gained in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can say that the presence of helicopters or the specified awareness that they will shortly arrive can sometimes change the course of events. It strengthens the morale of soldiers very much. It should besides be remembered that erstwhile it comes to helicopters, Ukraine uses post-Soviet platforms that do not have opportunities specified as AH-64. Our Apaches will harm targets from long distances, on the ground and in the air, which completely alters the geometry of the battlefield.
