Polish defence minister to sign deal for Black Hawk helicopters
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
24.01.2019 15:00
Poland’s defence minister has said he will on Friday sign a deal to buy a first batch of four Black Hawk helicopters for the country’s special operations forces.
Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak. Picture: Polish Radio
Speaking to public broadcaster Polish Radio, Mariusz Błaszczak said he would sign an agreement with a producer in the southeast of the country to supply the US-designed, Polish-built machines.
“Tomorrow I will sign an agreement with the PZL Mielec plant for the delivery of Black Hawk helicopters for the Polish armed forces,” Błaszczak said on Thursday.
He added that the agreement with PZL Mielec, a Poland-based aviation producer owned by US defence giant Lockheed Martin, would be for a "first batch" of helicopters.
He later clarified on Twitter that the deal would entail an initial order for four machines, Poland’s PAP news agency reported.
"For me, the most important thing is that the Polish army is being provided with modern equipment, but it is also important that this equipment is manufactured here in Poland, because this means jobs for Polish workers," Błaszczak told Polish Radio.
He described the Black Hawk as a design tried and tested in combat conditions and one that has been “selected by more than 30 countries.”
(gs/pk)
Source: Polish Radio, PAP