Polish Ministry of Defence: 14 Helicopters – Urgent Operational Requirement Procurement Procedure

Within the statement issued by Katarzyna Jakubowska, acting spokesperson for the Polish Ministry of Defence, it was noted that the urgent operational requirement acquisition assumes that 14 helicopters would be purchased.

According to the plan, a tender has been announced, within the framework of an urgent operational requirement procedure, the goal of which is to acquire 14 helicopters.

The information that had been published, before the aforesaid release was issued, had suggested that urgent operational requirement procurement is going to cover the acquisition of helicopters for the Special Forces and the Navy, also for the purpose of carrying out the SAR operations. The procedure invitations have been sent to PZL Świdnik, PZL Mielec and Airbus Helicopters, all of the contractors listed have begun the negotiations.

On 15th November, Antoni Macierewicz, Minister of Defence, also announced that he submitted a request to the Bell Helicopter company as well. In its preliminary offer, Bell included the UH-1Y Venom rotary-wing aircraft. The procurement based on the urgent operational requirement procedure does not assume that a multi-role helicopter, for all branches of the armed forces, should be based on a common platform.

Acquiring the helicopters within the framework of an urgent operational requirement mode procurement procedure is a result of the unsuccessful offset negotiation, concerning the acquisition of 50 Caracal multi-role helicopters, on the basis of the recommendation issued by the former leadership of the Polish Ministry of Defence. The French party, according to the announcement issued by the Ministry of Development, did not present an offset offer which would duly secure the economic and security interests of Poland – as the issued statement reads.