Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 (WZL-1), the Military Central Bureau of Design and Technology (WCBKT) and Boeing have signed offset implementation agreements to establish maintenance and sustainment capabilities for Poland’s AH-64E Apache helicopter fleet.
Under the agreements, WZL-1 will support the Polish Armed Forces with maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for the AH-64E. This will include organisational- and intermediate-level inspections and repairs, as well as selected depot-level component repairs.
The agreements will support the development of in-country maintenance and sustainment capabilities, including the technical expertise and workforce needed to support Poland’s Apache fleet, said Marc-Olivier Sabourin, Vice-President EICLA & Training Solutions, Boeing Global Services.
Boeing will provide technical support, resources and training to WZL-1 and WCBKT as they develop their Apache support capabilities in Poland.
Boeing and WCBKT will also evaluate selected ground support equipment developed by WCBKT for use with the AH-64E. The assessment will determine how Polish-developed equipment could be integrated into the Apache sustainment programme.
Jacek A. Goszczyński, CEO of WZL-1, said the agreement will support the development of Apache maintenance infrastructure in Europe and enable WZL-1 to provide support for Poland’s AH-64E fleet.
Poland has contracted for 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters. The offset agreements are intended to establish domestic maintenance, component repair, and ground support capabilities for the fleet.
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The agreement will help expand the Polish defence industry’s role in supporting the AH-64E Apache programme, while strengthening WCBKT’s capabilities in designing, manufacturing and servicing ground support equipment for the helicopters, highlighted Roman Fiszer, CEO of WCBKT
Poland will become the 19th country to operate the Apache and the second-largest Apache operator after the United States once its full fleet is added.
