Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/840553
First, quick reminder. For the first task, the contract will be to the company which will deliver eight helicopters for the 7.EDS (7th Special Operations Squadron, a specialized unit of the Polish Air Force formed to work with SOF units). In this particular case, the purchase procedure has moved on to the stage of negotiations with tenderers. In the second, task, ASW SAR operations over the Baltic Sea, the Armaments Inspectorate (Polish MOD body responsible for military equipment purchases) is looking for a provider of four (with an option of additional four) helicopters for the Polish Navy, which will replace Mi-14PL and Mi-14PL/R (NATO Code: Haze) and will support the smaller W-3WARM Anakonda (please see this FRAG OUT! Magazine issue for more details). Leonardo Helicopters has submitted their offer for both tender requirements, but since the procedure is confidential, the information which helicopter is going to be offered for Poland has not been made public. But it's more than certain that the Leonardo Helicopters AW101 Merlin is the perfect candidate for both "jobs". Its origins, combat performance, and the list of its users have been covered many times in the past, so in this article the focus will be put on the two versions of the AW101 offered to the Polish armed forces. It is important to highlight, that Leonardo has already developed and introduce into service variant of the AW101 which are corresponding to MOD's requirements The experiences gained act in favor of the factual delivery dates, the quoted price, and translate into effective logistics and training packages later in future. One of the first requirements set for the AW101 Merlin design was conducting of ASW operations. Both participants of the program, United Kingdom and Italy, were looking for a successor to the Westland Sea King to secure their sea transportation routes. The Royal Navy purchased the biggest number of AW101 helicopters in ASW version - 44 helicopters. It was introduced into service as Merlin HM.1. The first Merlin HM.1 was delivered in May 1997. Since that time two www.fragoutmag.com