Frag Out! Magazine

helicopter platforms, while the 44th base operates SAR helicopters and land-ba- sed ASW helicopters. In the Air Force, the helicopters, apart from playing the training role, are also used in SAR (ASAR) groups, for SAR and MEDEVAC purposes. Furthermore, the 1st Airlift Base deals with VIP transport tasks. The Special Operations Forces are cur- rently supported by two separate com- ponents. First, we are referring to the Air Special Operations Unit (formerly: 7th Special Operations Squadron), and the air squadron of the GROM SOF unit. It may be then stated that a clear division of roles and tasks has been established in the Polish Armed Forces. The Land Forces include units responsible for supporting the land component (airlift, reconnaissance, fire support). The Navy operates helicopters destined to carry out combat and SAR sorties in the naval environment. Meanwhile, the Air Force deals with pilot training, VIP transport, SAR/CSAR, and support for the SOF component. This scheme includes seve- ral exceptions - such as the Army Avia- tion CSAR squadron, or the air compo- nent of the GROM. The aforesaid division of tasks shall constitute a foundation for defining what capabilities (and hen- ce, helicopter types) would be needed by the individual branches of the Armed Forces. The Polish model is similar to the US, or the French structures. However, other solutions also exist, in the United Kingdom, or Germany for instance, whe- re the transport helicopters belong to the Air Force. In the Netherlands or Sweden, all of the air domain assets are subordi- nated to the Air Force. This has its pros and cons - just as owning a car does. The car belongs to us, and we have it at our disposal, and use it at our discretion. But we also take care of all aspects tied to maintenance. Not owning a car also has certain pros and cons - in such a sce- nario we only use services rendered by transportation providers, and we are so- lely concerned about the service, namely moving from point A to point B. The current approximate numbers regar- ding the flying assets are as follows: In 2022 the Army ope- rated 28 Mi-24 helicopters, ca. 40 Mi-2, including 16 URP-G weapons-capable ones, around 40 W-3 Sokół helicopters AVIATION

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