Polish Armed Forces receive first Leonardo AW149 helicopter fully built in Poland
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The first fully assembled AW149 helicopter in Poland was formally delivered on November 27, 2025, to the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade.
On November 27, 2025, the Polish Ministry of National Defense announced that the first domestically assembled AW149 helicopter was formally delivered to the Polish Armed Forces’ 25th Air Cavalry Brigade, based at Nowy Glinnik. This helicopter, built by PZL Świdnik, is the eleventh of 32 units supplied under the ongoing procurement with the Italian company Leonardo, and the first built on the Polish production line opened in 2024.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In Poland, the AW149 will replace several aging helicopters (including the Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-24, Mi-2, W-3 Sokół, and SH-2G), many of which have service lives exceeding thirty years. (Picture source: X/Paweł Bejda)
This helicopter is the eleventh delivered under the 32-unit contract signed in 2022, and the first to come from the manufacturing line opened in June 2024. The handover ceremony, which took place at the 7th Aviation Squadron, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who noted that the delivery follows recent defense acquisitions that include the selection of Saab for the Orka submarine program, progress under the SAFE initiative, and new missiles for Polish F-35s. The Ministry of National Defense highlighted that the introduction of the domestically built AW149 reflects a gradual modernization of the armed forces and continued development of national industrial capacity.
The procurement contract for 32 AW149 helicopters was signed with the Italian company Leonardo in Świdnik on July 1, 2022, valued at 8.25 billion złoty, with separate references presenting the deal as approximately €1.95 billion or around $1.85 billion, equivalent to about €1.76 billion. Deliveries are planned from 2023 to 2029, with the first ten helicopters produced in Italy to meet urgent operational needs and the remainder built in Poland. The local assembly line opened in 2024 after Polish personnel trained at Leonardo facilities, enabling domestic integration work, armament installation, testing, servicing, and long-term support. The first Polish-built airframe rolled out in February 2025, conducting its maiden flight on April 14, 2025, under the Acceptance Test Procedure framework. The contract also includes provisions for technology transfer and long-term domestic sustainment, aligning with Poland’s effort to replace Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-24, Mi-2, W-3 Sokół, and SH-2G helicopters, many of which have service lives exceeding thirty years. Earlier attempts to modernize the fleet included the 2015 selection of the Airbus H225M Caracal, later cancelled, followed by limited procurement of Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for special operations forces.
The development of the AW149 production line in Poland contributes to national industrial consolidation, with PZL-Świdnik also assembling AW101 helicopters for the Polish Navy. The company is responsible for system integration, armament fitting, modernization, and maintenance throughout the service life of the AW149. The industrial investment is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on external suppliers, expand national production capability, and support the aviation cluster through sustained multiyear programs. According to statements by Leonardo’s officials, the efficient cooperation between Polish and Italian teams allowed the crew training to start on schedule. PZL-Świdnik management stated that the April 2025 maiden flight represents a scheduled milestone in a long-term plan that includes additional production, flight testing, servicing, and potential modernization depending on future requirements. The facility already maintains the capacity to handle these tasks. The AW149 line positions Poland as a potential regional hub for maintenance, upgrades, and NATO-oriented logistic solutions.
The Leonardo AW149, a medium multirole helicopter, was unveiled in 2006 and achieved its first flight on November 13, 2009, in Vergiate, followed by a second prototype flight in 2011 and military certification in 2014. The helicopter, derived from the AW139, features a 17.57-meter fuselage, a 14.6-meter main rotor, a maximum takeoff weight of 8,600 kilograms, and a cabin volume of 11.2 cubic meters plus 2.4 cubic meters of stowage space behind the troop compartment. It can carry up to 19 lightly equipped passengers or 16 fully equipped troops and is typically configured with two pilots, 12 soldiers, and two gunners. The AW149 can reach a maximum speed of around 310 to 313 km/h, a cruise speed of approximately 278 to 290 km/h, an operational range between 844 and 1,009 km depending on configuration, and a service ceiling of about 4,600 meters. Power is provided by either two General Electric CT7-2E1 engines or two Safran Aneto-1K engines, with FADEC and anti-ice options for the five-blade rotor. The airframe uses composites and reinforced components, and includes crashworthy fuel tanks, energy-absorbing landing gear, and survivability measures such as dual separated hydraulic and electrical systems.
The AW149’s configuration for Poland covers transport, close support, reconnaissance, command post functions, special forces support, search and rescue, combat search and rescue, and maritime rescue operations. The helicopter includes a weather and navigation radar, an electro-optical observation turret, night-vision-goggle compatible cockpit equipment, encrypted communications, data links, identification systems, and a mission suite supporting NATO interoperability. The self-defense equipment includes radar warning receivers, laser warning receivers, missile approach warning systems, and infrared signature-reduction devices for the engine exhausts. The cabin can be arranged for medical evacuation with up to four stacked litters or fitted with mission modules for command and control, reconnaissance, or electronic warfare tasks. Both cockpit and cabin can be fitted with armor protection elements. External equipment includes four hardpoints for various combinations of weapon pods, rocket pods, missile launchers, or auxiliary fuel tanks. Additional options include a rescue hoist, wire-cutter systems, flotation equipment for operations over water up to sea state six, cargo hooks rated at about 2,800 kilograms, and additional internal fuel tanks.
A central characteristic of the Polish AW149 is the integration of AGM-114R2 Hellfire II air-to-surface missiles and 70 mm rockets, both unguided and laser-guided, which restores a capability lost when stocks for Mi-24 helicopters were depleted. PZL-Świdnik stated that the AW149 for Poland is already equipped with launchers for these weapons, with the missiles procured separately by the armed forces. Factory firing tests performed jointly with the Polish Army resulted in all targets being hit, including scenarios requiring cross-deck engagement, where a missile launched from the right side of the helicopter hit a target located several dozen degrees to the left. Additional trials included multiple launcher configurations for the 70 mm systems to verify performance in different firing geometries. The helicopter can also mount 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine guns in its side doors, as well as external gun pods and rocket pods on its pylons. Poland has secured 800 AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles for the fleet, giving the AW149 a significant precision strike role. The weapons can be installed internally in cabin mounts or externally, depending on mission requirements. These integrations are part of a broader modernization that includes domestic technical support for weapons systems at PZL-Świdnik.
The AW149 is also operated by Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia, and North Macedonia, while potential operators include the United Kingdom. Egypt ordered 24 AW149 helicopters plus options for more, with units delivered in transport and search-and-rescue configurations to naval aviation squadrons. Thailand operates five AW149s in its army and additional units in law enforcement service, replacing UH-1H helicopters. North Macedonia selected four AW149 and four AW169M helicopters in 2024 to renew its fleet, configuring the AW149 for two-crew and twelve-troop layouts. Malaysia will lease up to 28 AW149 for combat search and rescue and utility missions in a two-phase acquisition. In the United Kingdom, the AW149 remains the only active candidate in the New Medium Helicopter program after the withdrawal of Airbus and Sikorsky, with the RAF and British Army seeking to replace Puma HC2, Bell 212, Bell 412, and Dauphin helicopters, although the final decision remains pending. The AW149’s architecture also supports the AW189 civilian variant and is part of the technological basis for the AW249 attack helicopter.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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The first fully assembled AW149 helicopter in Poland was formally delivered on November 27, 2025, to the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade.
On November 27, 2025, the Polish Ministry of National Defense announced that the first domestically assembled AW149 helicopter was formally delivered to the Polish Armed Forces’ 25th Air Cavalry Brigade, based at Nowy Glinnik. This helicopter, built by PZL Świdnik, is the eleventh of 32 units supplied under the ongoing procurement with the Italian company Leonardo, and the first built on the Polish production line opened in 2024.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In Poland, the AW149 will replace several aging helicopters (including the Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-24, Mi-2, W-3 Sokół, and SH-2G), many of which have service lives exceeding thirty years. (Picture source: X/Paweł Bejda)
This helicopter is the eleventh delivered under the 32-unit contract signed in 2022, and the first to come from the manufacturing line opened in June 2024. The handover ceremony, which took place at the 7th Aviation Squadron, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who noted that the delivery follows recent defense acquisitions that include the selection of Saab for the Orka submarine program, progress under the SAFE initiative, and new missiles for Polish F-35s. The Ministry of National Defense highlighted that the introduction of the domestically built AW149 reflects a gradual modernization of the armed forces and continued development of national industrial capacity.
The procurement contract for 32 AW149 helicopters was signed with the Italian company Leonardo in Świdnik on July 1, 2022, valued at 8.25 billion złoty, with separate references presenting the deal as approximately €1.95 billion or around $1.85 billion, equivalent to about €1.76 billion. Deliveries are planned from 2023 to 2029, with the first ten helicopters produced in Italy to meet urgent operational needs and the remainder built in Poland. The local assembly line opened in 2024 after Polish personnel trained at Leonardo facilities, enabling domestic integration work, armament installation, testing, servicing, and long-term support. The first Polish-built airframe rolled out in February 2025, conducting its maiden flight on April 14, 2025, under the Acceptance Test Procedure framework. The contract also includes provisions for technology transfer and long-term domestic sustainment, aligning with Poland’s effort to replace Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-24, Mi-2, W-3 Sokół, and SH-2G helicopters, many of which have service lives exceeding thirty years. Earlier attempts to modernize the fleet included the 2015 selection of the Airbus H225M Caracal, later cancelled, followed by limited procurement of Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for special operations forces.
The development of the AW149 production line in Poland contributes to national industrial consolidation, with PZL-Świdnik also assembling AW101 helicopters for the Polish Navy. The company is responsible for system integration, armament fitting, modernization, and maintenance throughout the service life of the AW149. The industrial investment is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on external suppliers, expand national production capability, and support the aviation cluster through sustained multiyear programs. According to statements by Leonardo’s officials, the efficient cooperation between Polish and Italian teams allowed the crew training to start on schedule. PZL-Świdnik management stated that the April 2025 maiden flight represents a scheduled milestone in a long-term plan that includes additional production, flight testing, servicing, and potential modernization depending on future requirements. The facility already maintains the capacity to handle these tasks. The AW149 line positions Poland as a potential regional hub for maintenance, upgrades, and NATO-oriented logistic solutions.
The Leonardo AW149, a medium multirole helicopter, was unveiled in 2006 and achieved its first flight on November 13, 2009, in Vergiate, followed by a second prototype flight in 2011 and military certification in 2014. The helicopter, derived from the AW139, features a 17.57-meter fuselage, a 14.6-meter main rotor, a maximum takeoff weight of 8,600 kilograms, and a cabin volume of 11.2 cubic meters plus 2.4 cubic meters of stowage space behind the troop compartment. It can carry up to 19 lightly equipped passengers or 16 fully equipped troops and is typically configured with two pilots, 12 soldiers, and two gunners. The AW149 can reach a maximum speed of around 310 to 313 km/h, a cruise speed of approximately 278 to 290 km/h, an operational range between 844 and 1,009 km depending on configuration, and a service ceiling of about 4,600 meters. Power is provided by either two General Electric CT7-2E1 engines or two Safran Aneto-1K engines, with FADEC and anti-ice options for the five-blade rotor. The airframe uses composites and reinforced components, and includes crashworthy fuel tanks, energy-absorbing landing gear, and survivability measures such as dual separated hydraulic and electrical systems.
The AW149’s configuration for Poland covers transport, close support, reconnaissance, command post functions, special forces support, search and rescue, combat search and rescue, and maritime rescue operations. The helicopter includes a weather and navigation radar, an electro-optical observation turret, night-vision-goggle compatible cockpit equipment, encrypted communications, data links, identification systems, and a mission suite supporting NATO interoperability. The self-defense equipment includes radar warning receivers, laser warning receivers, missile approach warning systems, and infrared signature-reduction devices for the engine exhausts. The cabin can be arranged for medical evacuation with up to four stacked litters or fitted with mission modules for command and control, reconnaissance, or electronic warfare tasks. Both cockpit and cabin can be fitted with armor protection elements. External equipment includes four hardpoints for various combinations of weapon pods, rocket pods, missile launchers, or auxiliary fuel tanks. Additional options include a rescue hoist, wire-cutter systems, flotation equipment for operations over water up to sea state six, cargo hooks rated at about 2,800 kilograms, and additional internal fuel tanks.
A central characteristic of the Polish AW149 is the integration of AGM-114R2 Hellfire II air-to-surface missiles and 70 mm rockets, both unguided and laser-guided, which restores a capability lost when stocks for Mi-24 helicopters were depleted. PZL-Świdnik stated that the AW149 for Poland is already equipped with launchers for these weapons, with the missiles procured separately by the armed forces. Factory firing tests performed jointly with the Polish Army resulted in all targets being hit, including scenarios requiring cross-deck engagement, where a missile launched from the right side of the helicopter hit a target located several dozen degrees to the left. Additional trials included multiple launcher configurations for the 70 mm systems to verify performance in different firing geometries. The helicopter can also mount 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine guns in its side doors, as well as external gun pods and rocket pods on its pylons. Poland has secured 800 AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles for the fleet, giving the AW149 a significant precision strike role. The weapons can be installed internally in cabin mounts or externally, depending on mission requirements. These integrations are part of a broader modernization that includes domestic technical support for weapons systems at PZL-Świdnik.
The AW149 is also operated by Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia, and North Macedonia, while potential operators include the United Kingdom. Egypt ordered 24 AW149 helicopters plus options for more, with units delivered in transport and search-and-rescue configurations to naval aviation squadrons. Thailand operates five AW149s in its army and additional units in law enforcement service, replacing UH-1H helicopters. North Macedonia selected four AW149 and four AW169M helicopters in 2024 to renew its fleet, configuring the AW149 for two-crew and twelve-troop layouts. Malaysia will lease up to 28 AW149 for combat search and rescue and utility missions in a two-phase acquisition. In the United Kingdom, the AW149 remains the only active candidate in the New Medium Helicopter program after the withdrawal of Airbus and Sikorsky, with the RAF and British Army seeking to replace Puma HC2, Bell 212, Bell 412, and Dauphin helicopters, although the final decision remains pending. The AW149’s architecture also supports the AW189 civilian variant and is part of the technological basis for the AW249 attack helicopter.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
