MSPO 2015: Rotorcraft Dominating MSPO 2015

Without any exaggeration it can be said that helicopters dominated this year edition of MSPO defense exhibition. An impressive number helicopters arrived to Kielce: TAI’s T-129 ATAK, Sikorsky’s UH-60M BLACK HAWK, Boeing’s AH-64 APACHE, and three products from Airbus Helicopters: H22M CARACAL, EC665 TIGER, and H145M (mockup).

Sikorsky UH-60M BLACK HAWK (All photos by Robert Czulda)

Boeing AH-64 APACHE

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T-129 ATAK

Airbus Helicopters EC665 TIGER

Airbus Helicopters H22M CARACAL

Airbus Helicopters H145M

AH-64E GUARDIAN, EC665 TIGER, and T-129B ATAK are competing in the KRUK (RAVEN) attack helicopter acquisition programme, which was launched by Poland in July 2014. Its main goal is to replace Poland’s ageing fleet of 29 Mi-24W/D helicopters (acquired mainly in the 1980s with additional batch of ex-East German Ds in 1996). Currently the tender for up to 32 new helicopters is in its analytical-conceptual phase. A selection of a potential winner is planned for this year.

The most popular helicopter among the audience during MSPO 2015 is the AH-64. However, the most active marketing campaign was carried by TAI. This Turkish company in late August launched the “T129 ATAK Poland Roadshow,” which will be accomplished at the end of MSPO 2015 (see earlier blog entries).

The most popular helicopter among the audience during MSPO 2015 is Boeing's AH-64.

During its roadshow, in Radom, Warsaw and now Kielce, TAI provided many details about a potential “Polonization” of the helicopter if the T-129 ATAK is selected by Poland. TAI is willing to involve several Polish companies, including MESKO, WOJSKOWE CENTRALNE BIURO KONSTRUKCYJNO-TECHNOLOGICZNE, INSTYTUT TECHNICZNY WOJSK LOTNICZYCH, and WZL-1 (WOJSKOWE ZAKŁADY LOTNICZE NR 1). Earlier, in May 2015 during IDEF 2015, TAI signed agreements regarding T-129 with MESKO AND WOJSKOWE CENTRALNE BIURO KONSTRUKCYJNO-TECHNOLOGICZNE. During MSPO 2015, TAI signed several memorandums of understanding with the above-mentioned Polish companies (see earlier blog entry).

Turkish Aerospace Industries' (TAI) T-129 ATAK helicopter features Roketsan's UMTAS missiles.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T-129 ATAK

Airbus Helicopters’ static display presented the H225M CARACAL, which was pre-selected by the Polish government and passed operational tests with the Polish army earlier this year. However, this selection remains highly controversial. The main rivals were AgustaWestland with its AW149 and Sikorsky with the S-70i BLACK HAWK, both of which are assembled in Poland –at PZL Świdnik and PZL Mielec respectively.

Marco Miklis, the Head of Airbus Group’s Region of Canada, Europe and CIS, explained to MT that Airbus Group is confident that Poland will not cancel the tender and will decide to acquire the H225 CARACAL for its Armed Forces. He added that H225 is another step in building a deep and bilateral cooperation between his company and Poland. It was confirmed during MSPO 2015 that main assembly, maintenance and production facilities of Airbus Helicopters under CARACAL contract will be based in Polish city of Łódź. Marco Miklis added that he hoped that Poland would select the EC665 TIGER as an ultimate replacement for the Mi-24s. According to him that would be a logic step and the combination of H225 CARACAL and EC665 TIGER would allow Poland to save financial and time resources in terms of training, logistic and maintenance.

Deliveries are planned to start in 2017. Under the agreement, Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr. 2 in Łódź will deliver 50 helicopters – some of them for export. Facilities in Łódź will also produce parts of the A350 passenger aircraft. Since February 2015 Łódź has been a home of the Airbus Helicopters Engineering office.

Another elements of Airbus Group’s portfolio presented at MSPO 2015 included the ATLANTE Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and the ASTROBUS-S Earth observation satellite. Military aircraft solutions shown at the stand included the A330 MRTT; the C295 platform for transport and ISR missions, and the PZL-130 ORLIK multi-purpose basic trainer. It also included a mockup of the H145M (previously known as the EC645T2) multirole light helicopter which could be an interesting replacement solution for Poland’s ageing fleet of Mi-2 helicopters.