Poland's ministry of national defence has selected BAE Systems of the UK to act as avionics systems integrator for the prototype phase of a project to bring around 16 of its Mil Mi-24 assault helicopters up to NATO standards.
Announced on 26 February, the deal will see BAE head a team also likely to comprise Poland's WZL-1 maintenance depot and a Russian industry partner during the modernisation of two prototype aircraft. BAE Systems was picked to conduct the work in preference to rival submissions from companies in France, Germany, Israel and South Africa.
Modifications to the Polish aircraft will focus on the addition of an integrated electronic-warfare suite and the introduction of open-architecture avionics. The company says its upgrade programme will be the first to result in a Soviet-manufactured helicopter being considered as NATO-interoperable.
BAE hopes the Polish announcement could sway NATO invitee Bulgaria to select the company to oversee an approximately $200 million programme to modernise at least 36 Mi-24s and Mi-17 utility helicopters. A decision is expected as soon as this month (Flight International, 24 February-1 March). It could also influence other Mi-24 modernisation efforts planned in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, BAE believes. Along with the last three countries, Poland had planned to modernise its Mi-24s through a joint programme, but failed to agree on a common set of requirements or a timescale to conduct the work.
In a further development, Poland recently issued a request for proposals to companies interested in upgrading its inventory of W-3 Sokol utility helicopters.
BAE is among the organisations to have been issued with the document.
Source: Flight International
