Poland’s Inaugural AW149 Helicopter Soars on Its Debut Flight

The inaugural AW149 multi-role helicopter entirely produced in Poland has triumphantly carried out its first flight.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence confirmed that the helicopter, manufactured at PZL-Świdnik, a subsidiary of Leonardo, executed its initial test flight on April 14, 2025, as part of the Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP). The ATP ensures that the aircraft adheres to the design specifications agreed upon in Poland’s contract with Leonardo Helicopters. Additional flight testing will continue according to specified protocols and timelines, according to the Ministry.

This remarkable milestone follows the July 2022 agreement between Poland and Leonardo for the procurement of 32 AW149 helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces. Initially, the first helicopters for this program were assembled at Leonardo’s facility in Vergiate, Italy, in response to urgent needs stemming from the region’s intricate geopolitical landscape. During this phase, Polish specialists from PZL-Świdnik participated in the production process, effectively setting the stage for comprehensive domestic manufacturing capabilities.

“The execution of the AW149 contract for the Polish military exemplifies outstanding collaboration between Italian and Polish teams, efficient supply chain management, and fruitful partnership with the end user,” stated Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters. “These collective efforts have guaranteed that the Polish military could commence training on this helicopter model as planned.”

The AW149 is a contemporary multi-role military helicopter outfitted with cutting-edge systems and designed for diverse missions, including troop transportation, medical evacuation, and search and rescue operations. The production agreement with Poland explicitly encompassed technology transfer and the establishment of local manufacturing, maintenance, and support frameworks within the nation.