Poland’s AW149 Helicopter Takes to the Skies for a Stunning First Flight
The first AW149 multi-role helicopter fully crafted in Poland has successfully accomplished its inaugural flight.
The Polish Ministry of National Defence has validated that the helicopter, produced at PZL-Świdnik, a subsidiary of Leonardo, executed its preliminary test flight on April 14, 2025, as part of the Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP). The ATP guarantees that the aircraft meets the design criteria established in Poland’s agreement with Leonardo Helicopters. Further flight evaluations will proceed in accordance with designated protocols and schedules, as reported by the Ministry.
This significant milestone comes after the July 2022 agreement between Poland and Leonardo for the acquisition of 32 AW149 helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces. Initially, the first units for this initiative were assembled at Leonardo’s plant in Vergiate, Italy, in response to urgent needs arising from the complex geopolitical climate in the region. During this phase, Polish experts from PZL-Świdnik contributed to the assembly process, effectively paving the way for comprehensive local production capabilities.
“The realization of the AW149 contract for the Polish military illustrates exceptional teamwork between Italian and Polish groups, effective supply chain administration, and a successful collaboration with the end user,” remarked Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters. “These joint efforts have ensured that the Polish military could begin training on this helicopter model as intended.”
The AW149 is a modern multi-role military helicopter equipped with state-of-the-art systems and engineered for a variety of missions, including troop transport, medical evacuation, and search and rescue operations. The production agreement with Poland explicitly included technology transfer and the development of local manufacturing, maintenance, and support infrastructures within the nation.
