Sikorsky, Polish subsidiary sweeten helicopter contract bid

LODZ, Poland, March 20 (UPI) -- Sikorsky Aircraft and its Polish subsidiary will invest in Polish Military Aviation Works facilities if awarded a government contract for new military helicopters.

PZL Mielec said the investment would be nearly $200 million and establish service and repair units for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in plants of Polish Military Aviation Works, or WZL-1, in the cities of Lodz and Deblin.

"For WZL-1 it will be a technological revolution," said PZL Mielec. "Above all, it is the acquisition of new technology and competence in the field of aircraft service and repairs, replacement of machines and devices, and most importantly a move away from the current 'Soviet' approach to the service of aviation equipment and replacing it with 'Western' methodology."

"The acquired competences are also the chance for WZL-1 to join to the global support and service network of Sikorsky Aircraft and achieve in the future opportunity for providing improvements and modernization to the worldwide fleet of Black Hawk helicopters."

The Polish military plans to acquire as many as 200 helicopters -- transport as well as combat -- in the coming years to modernize its aviation capabilities.