Polish military aviation centenary
44 // JULY 2018 #364 http://www.airforcesmonthly.comcommunications system, KT-1 Adros infrared
countermeasures system, new radios, exhaust
gas dispensers, TACAN and VOR/ILS.
Currently, 13 Mi-24Ws remain in
use at Pruszcz and Inowrocław.
Seven W-3PL Głuszec (capercaillie)
helicopters are stationed at Inowrocław. These
aircraft were completed in two batches of four
using W-3WA airframes formerly flown by the
25 BKPow. One example was destroyed in
an accident in Italy last year. The Głuszec is
a long-awaited development of the W-3WA,
with a range of modifications, which included:- Rafael TopLite electro-optical sensor
mounted above the crew compartment - 12.7mm calibre WKM-Bz machine
gun in a movable mount under the nose,
with 350 rounds of ammunition - modernised cockpit based on hands on
collective and stick (HOCAS) principles,
with three colour liquid-crystal multifunction
displays (MFDs, two 10.4in and one
8in), CMC Electronics Heli Hawk head-
up display (HUD), NVG compatibility - modular mission computer and
integrated navigation system with
inertial navigation system (INS)/GPS and
indigenous VOR/TACAN/ILS receivers - MFD in transport cabin to improve situational
awareness of the embarked troops - EUP-10WM full-authority digital
engine control (FADEC) - ASO-2W flare launchers and KT-01
Adros infrared countermeasures system - pylons equipped with data rail and
integrated with mission computer
to manage weapons on MFDs
Currently, the Głuszec is armed with 57mm
calibre S-5 and 80mm calibre S-8 rockets
and 23mm UPK-23-250 gun pods. In
future, it could be equipped with guided
missiles, such as the Rafael Spike.
As it’s intended to take part in combat search
and rescue (CSAR) missions, the W-3PL is
equipped with a Nightsun searchlight, a hoist
and a radio direction finder to help locate
missing persons. The four aircraft from the
second batch have slightly modified software
based on initial operational experience.
Earlier plans to modify further airframes
have been shelved for the time being.
A third helicopter is used at both 1 BLWL
bases, the Mi-2. The first examples arrived
at Pruszcz Gdański in 1968 and Inowrocław
in 1973 (where they replaced the SM-1
and SM-2). Both Pruszcz and Inowrocław
have since hosted almost all army versions
of the Mi-2. In the second half of the
last decade, around a dozen Mi-2s were
modernised with NVG compatibility, GPS
receiver and AN/APN-209 radio altimeter.The future
Only two years ago, it seemed that Polish
Army Aviation would receive 16 new transport
helicopters plus several more examples in
a medical evacuation configuration. These
would have been drawn from the 50 Airbus
Helicopters H225M Caracals selected as the
armed forces’ new multi-purpose helicopter.
It was also expected that the tender to
provide a successor to the Mi-24, under
the Kruk programme, would be significantly
speeded up, but a change of government
in Warsaw also changed the priorities for
the modernisation of the armed forces.
The agreement to buy Caracals from Airbus
Helicopters was annulled, dashing hopes
of replacing all the Mi-8s in 25 BKPow.
There are no plans to begin replacing these
ageing machines in the near future.
It is probable that Mi-17s from the 7th
Special Operations Squadron will end up
in 1 DLot once the air force has introduced
a successor (the ongoing tender for eight
new special operations helicopters is at
a fairly advanced stage, with the H225M,S-70i Black Hawk and AW101 competing).
The air force Mi-17s would complement
the modern Mi-17-1Vs in use today.
As for 25 BKPow’s main workhorse, the W-3,
it will probably remain in service for many years
to come. Possible upgrades could involve a
revised cockpit, FADEC (as in the naval W-3
Anacondas), or even new rotor blades.
It’s still planned to issue a tender
for the Mi-24 successor, and some
requirements have been set out.
The Mi-2 – which celebrated its 50th
anniversary in Polish Army service last year – is
supposed be replaced by 2022. According to
the current schedule, analysis of a successor
should begin this year, leading to launch of the
tender proper. At this stage, it’s impossible
to determine the number of aircraft to be
ordered, but it’s unlikely that the Mi-2s will be
replaced on a one-for-one basis (currently, the
armed forces operate around 60 examples).
In the meantime, the old Hoplites will be
refurbished by the manufacturer, PZL-Świdnik,
enabling training to continue at both bases.
The Polish military’s rotary aviation is not
short of contradictions. On the one hand, its
well-trained crews have extensive experience
from foreign missions and international
exercises. On the other, most of the
equipment is ageing and of largely Russian
origin. The coming years may be challenging
for Polish Army Aviation in particular.Mi-24D 456 from the 56 BLot during CSAR training,
with MiG-29s fl ying in the fi xed-wing rescue escort
role. Mi-24s (and W-3PLs) from 1 BLWL also work
alongside MiG-29s during air policing missions
covering high-profi le sports and political events in
Poland. Filip ModrzejewskiSeen over the Pilica river near Nowy Glinnik, this is
Mi-17AE 607 – the medevac version of the Mi-17,
operated by the PJEM. Bartek BeraAFM