The Armed Forces Agency unexpectedly cancelled the tender procedure for the acquisition of 32 S-70i Black Hawk multitasking helicopters, manufactured at PZL Mielec, owned by American company Lockheed Martin.
This decision is explained by the “substantial change of circumstances” which, as stated in the authoritative communication, makes it not in the public interest to proceed the procedure. Although this sounds technically, many observers and representatives of the arms manufacture read it as a movement with a deeper, political-economic background, which can have real and long-term effects on Poland's safety and the condition of the national defence industry.
The tender for the chopper was announced in the summertime of 2023, and the only offer was made by PZL Mielec – the only Black Hawk maker in Europe. It seemed that the case was well established: the Mielec plant had already supplied these machines for the peculiar Forces and the Police, and the helicopters themselves gained the reputation of reliable and well suited to the needs of the Armed Forces of Poland. Meanwhile, on May 23, 2025, the Armed Forces Agency announced that the proceedings were cancelled. The authoritative reason: "We gotta carry out these tasks, which have the highest priorities" – as said by the press spokesman, Colonel Grzegorz Polak. What precisely does that mean? That's not specified anymore. However, this sounds like a classical expression utilized to close the subject without the request to translate real motivations.
The decision sparked an avalanche of comments and objections, not only from manufacture but besides from politicians – both opposition and people associated with the erstwhile leadership of the MON. erstwhile Minister of National Defence, Antoni Macierewicz, spared no criticism, calling the cancellation of the tender "an irresponsible and anti-Polish action". In his opinion, it is part of a broader strategy to subordinate Polish defence policy to external interests – especially Germany – and at the same time deprive Poland of its independency in terms of the improvement of national military potential. Thesis may sound controversial, but it is hard to deny that there is something about it: PZL Mielec is simply a Polish company with a tradition and recognised production potential, which thanks to abroad contracts and government orders keep jobs and make the competence of the national defence industry.
Trade unions with PZL Mielec besides expressed concern, which request clarification and transparency. In their view, the cancellation of the tender without a circumstantial and factual justification is simply a blow to the full region, but besides to the credibility of the State as an industrial partner. Many months of preparation, investment outlays and adjustment of the production line to the requirements of the tender are now in vain. In the background, there is besides a question of whether a fresh procedure will appear in a moment, with fresh conditions – more friendly to another players, specified as PZL Świdnik, who had already supplied the army with 32 AW149.
It is hard not to get the impression that the full situation shows chaos and deficiency of a coherent strategy in Polish military purchasing policy. On the 1 hand, we are talking about the request to rapidly strengthen defence capabilities in the face of the war in Ukraine and the expanding threat from Russia, on the another hand, administrative decisions seem to contradict these declarations. Is it truly in the public interest to abandon the advanced tender for modern multitasking helicopters that Poland urgently needs to safe its own airspace effectively and respond to crisis situations?
Instead of aiming for predictability and long-term planning, we are one more time dealing with a movement that looks like a consequence of pressure, lobbying or political competitions. The Polish army needs not only equipment, but besides a coherent, reliable modernisation strategy. However, decisions specified as this undermine assurance in institutions liable for national security. possibly it is worth asking: who truly benefits from the fact that Polish Black Hawks will not get airborne?
