PGZ announces cooperation with American company Bell Textron for the Polish helicopter program

PGZ announces cooperation with American company Bell Textron for the Polish helicopter program

(PRESS RELEASE) WARSAW, 6-Feb-2020 — /EuropaWire/ — Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) announces partnership with Bell Textron Inc. (Bell) for a joint cooperation on the “Kruk” helicopter program implemented by Polish Ministry of National Defence.

The agreement, signed at Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze nr 1 S.A. in Łódź, discloses that PGZ and its subsidiaries, in particular WZL-1 in Łódź, is likely to become the Polish H-1 center of excellence for maintenance, repair, modification, and upgrade in the event that Bell’s AH-1Z “Viper” helicopter is selected under the „Kruk” program of the Polish Armed Forces.

The agreement ensures that Poland is capable of providing support for the helicopters. Included in the letter of intent is the framework for Bell and PGZ / WZL#1 to cooperate on identifying and developing specific industrial projects which will be beneficial to all parties.

Wojciech Netkowski, Helicopter Programs Director in Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa commented: “Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa cooperates with leading global companies wanting to participate in the Polish helicopter programs. We want to maximize the technical and intellectual potential of PGZ companies and establish a permanent, long-term cooperation with a foreign partner chosen by the Ministry of National Defence. Developing competences related to the service and modernization of new types of helicopters and aircraft produced by Western companies is a vital part of the ongoing process of strategic reorientation of our air domain companies.”

Joel Best, Director of Bell’s European Military Programs added: “Bell looks forward to working with PGZ and WZL-1 to bring enhanced capabilities and long-term employment to Poland as part of the “Kruk” program. Bell congratulates Poland on its bold decision to procure the F-35, and we look forward to helping Poland create the same air-ground battle dominance as the United States Marine Corps, the only military service in the world to fly both the F-35 and AH-1Z.”

For more information, please contact:

Spokesman of PGZ S.A.
rzecznik@pgzsa.pl

SOURCE: Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa