W Łódź signed offset agreements between American company Lockheed Martin and Military Aviation Plants No. 1 on service in Poland of AH-64E Apache helicopters. Poland ordered 96 of these machines. The location of the service center in the country will reduce the time of repair and modernization of the Apache and will increase the combat readiness of these helicopters.
– Apache This is simply a large opportunity, not only for our defence, but besides for these circumstantial plants," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the ceremony of signing offset contracts for servicing in Łódź Military Aviation Plant No 1 Apache helicopters. The head of the Polish government stressed that thanks to these agreements our country will be prepared to defy the attack on the modern battlefield and will be able to respond to modern threats.
The Prime Minister pointed out that in the case of offset on these helicopters Poland was friendly, but powerfully negotiated elements of the contract. “That’s why offset became a fact,” Tusk said. He added that the government puts the safety of Poles in the first place, as evidenced by the Polish Armed Poland task and the EU's SAFE loan.
In turn, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence stressed that 96 Apaches, which are to scope Poland in 2028, are the second largest army of American-produced combat helicopters in the world, immediately after the United States. “This investment is due to the needs and improvement strategy of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. He besides recalled that Apache was accompanied by land troops. “We are building the largest army of land troops in Europe, today, after Turkey, in this part of the world, we are second and third. However, it is impossible to organize large land forces without adequate protection from the air," added the head of the MON.
Today's offset agreements between WZL No. 1 and American Lockheed Martin concerning the establishment of the Apache chopper Service Center in Łódź. The fresh plant was designed as a center for sensor systems and driving the fire of these machines.
Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Head of the Military chopper Division at the Management Board of chopper Aviation of the General Command of the RSZ explained that the agreement concerns the servicing of 2 systems in Łódź, with which Polish Apache will be equipped: detecting and marking targets and radar steering fire. The officer pointed out that thanks to the anticipation of moving the service on site, it will be possible to shorten repair and modernization times and keep advanced operational readiness of the Polish chopper fleet.
More executive contracts are to be signed soon, including engine servicing or another Apache repairs. “Thanks to close cooperation with the Polish defence manufacture and the construction of national maintenance capabilities, we let faster maintenance, increase the readiness of systems and guarantee that the Apache chopper fleet remains capable of carrying out tasks at key moments”, said Stacy Kubicek, Vice president and manager General for Sensors & Global Sustainability at Lockheed Martin.
She pointed out that the contract besides provides for training of mechanics, technicians, test kits, training programs, mark tracking systems and radar. – Conclusion of offset contracts related to the acquisition by Poland of 96 AH-64E combat helicopters will let the creation in the country of the Industrial Service Centre of Apache Helicopters, based on peculiar competences of WZL-1 S.A. in Łódź and Dęblin", emphasised Jacek A. Goszczyński, president of the Management Board of WZL-1 S.A.
The contracts concluded present are based on the Polish Ministry of Defence signed in 2024 Agreements with the United States Government to acquisition 96 AH-64E Apache Guardian impact helicopters worth around USD 10.8 billion. The agreement included a logistics package (including chopper service equipment, airport-hangar equipment and method support) and training (specific training for pilots and method personnel and comprehensive simulators and partial tasks) and a supply of ammunition and spare parts.
Apache 64 E Guardian helicopters are primarily designed to support the actions of land troops. It besides includes support for the air defence system, in peculiar by combating unmanned flying facilities and low-flying air targets. respective twelve Polish soldiers (technicians and pilots) have already had training in the USA in Apache, and another flight crew course will start there in June. At the same time, training at the 56th Air Base in Inowrocław takes place. Apache 64D leased helicoptersWhich is in country eight.
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