Armed Forces
Three Offers Regarding the Multi-Role Helicopters for the Army have been Placed
Ilustracja: ESA via Youtube
Three offers have been placed in the tender, aim of which is to procure 70 multi-role helicopters for the Polish Army. Each one of the offers is to be based on a single platform in several variants. The tender proceedings have come to an end on 30th December, as the Polish MoD’s press agent, Col. Jacek Sońta, informs.
The Armament Inspectorate has received offers from the following contractors:
- “Program EC-725 CARACAL-POLSKA” consortium, consisting of: Airbus Helicopters SAS and Heli Invest Sp. z o. o. Services S.K-A, with the EC-725 Caracal;
- Consortium consisting of the following companies: Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze Sp. z o. o., Sikorsky Aircraft Corporations, Sikorsky International Operations Inc.; which offers the Black Hawk helicopters;
- WSK „PZL-Świdnik” SA. Company, with the AW-149 rotorcraft.
Currently the Ministry of Defence is willing to carry out an analysis of the offers, and choose the most beneficial one out of the three. What is more, test-flying programme for the helicopter, which is rated as the best one, is planned to be executed.
At the time when the Armament Inspectorate Commission is going to carry out its own analyses, Ministry of Economy team is to examine the offset offers. Next step involves negotiations related to conclusion of the offset agreement – as Col. Jacek Sońta informs.
The agreement is to be concluded, according to the schedule, during the second half of 2015, after the offset memorandum is signed.
At the end of October, the consortium of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and PZL Mielec companies published a statement, according to which the conditions imposed by MoD had made it impossible for the Polish-American subject, to take part in the tender. It has been stated that the consortium “would not be capable” of taking part in the proceedings, unless the MoD requirements are changed. An open letter covering that issue has been sent by the President of the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. He stated that the company will not place an offer until the tender requirements are changed.
Ultimately Sikorsky has decided to place an offer, which has been noted by the MoD Secretary of State, Czesław Mroczek. Due to the requests which had been placed by two subjects which take part in the tender, the Ministry decided to prolong the offer placing deadline until 30th December 2014.