Officials deny Apache sale to Poland, despite systems contract

[Zarvan]

While Poland is known to be considering the AH-64E Apache for its Kruk (Raven) attack helicopter programme, officials have denied that any particular platform has yet been chosen. Source: Boeing

The US Army and Boeing have told Jane's that Poland has not selected the AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter for its Kruk (Raven) requirement, despite the country being included in a related contract announcement posted on the US Department of Defense (DoD) website on 28 April.

Poland is known to be considering the AH-64E Apache Guardian as one of a number of future attack helicopter types, and the country's inclusion alongside other current international operators of the type in a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for Apache sighting systems appeared to indicate that a selection had indeed taken place.

"Lockheed Martin, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a USD332,136,017 firm-fixed-price foreign military sales (United Kingdom, Egypt, India, Korea, Republic of Indonesia, Taiwan, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Poland) contract for Modernised Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor System, subcomponent production, and technical services for the Apache attack helicopter," the notification read.

However, in response to a request for clarification from Jane's, a representative for the US Army said that Poland has not yet opted to buy the Apache, while Boeing noted that the country has not made any decision regarding its Kruk requirement. While Jane's has been assured that no decision has taken place, however, neither the US Army nor Boeing said why the country had been included in the Apache sighting system contract. The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) had not responded to the request by the time of publication.

Poland is currently in the midst of a helicopter recapitalisation effort to replace its Warsaw Pact-era inventory, with the emphasis currently on acquiring a new special forces type to replace its ageing Mil Mi-8/17 'Hip' platforms, as well as an anti-submarine warfare type to replace the Mil Mi-14 'Haze'. It had been understood that the Mi-24 'Hind' assault platforms to be replaced by the new Kruk attack helicopter programme would remain in service for the foreseeable future.

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