Europe under extreme duress

[Lawman]

Interesting news from Poland: re-evaluating a 32 aircraft Blackhawk order.

Poland hits the brakes on S-70i Black Hawk procurement process - Breaking Defense

Pawel Beja, Poland’s deputy minister of national defense, suggested the decision related to a reexamination of priorities in part prompted by the war in Ukraine.

breakingdefense.com

Keep in mind that the current Air Assault brigade they have already took delivery of its AW149s to replace its W-3 fleet.

They have spent the last year or so evaluating a 8/17 replacement for the other part of that brigade. They really want to move to a Chinook capability in terms of lift and load capacity.

Getting a 60 actually causes them a lot of issues if they end up needing heavy left as well.

 

[Hair Warrior]

Would Poland be a good candidate for either the V-22 or V-280, recognizing that they both have inferior lift capacity than the CH-47?

 

[Lawman]

Would Poland be a good candidate for either the V-22 or V-280, recognizing that they both have inferior lift capacity than the CH-47?

The size of the country they are exercising interior lines of communication, no.

The Poles are going to stand and fight for every inch of land they have. Plus they need an aircraft tomorrow now 5-10 years from now.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Keep in mind that the current Air Assault brigade they have already took delivery of its AW149s to replace its W-3 fleet.

They have spent the last year or so evaluating a 8/17 replacement for the other part of that brigade. They really want to move to a Chinook capability in terms of lift and load capacity.

Getting a 60 actually causes them a lot of issues if they end up needing heavy left as well.

How has Poland’s experience been with the AW-149 and how do think it compares to the latest Blackhawk?

 

[Lawman]

How has Poland’s experience been with the AW-149 and how do think it compares to the latest Blackhawk?

It’s not a combat aircraft.

Like it’s very nice, and the equipment they got with it makes it very capable, I just dont think it’s something that can be long term sustained living in the dirt. The LRUs are all behind stuff or intermixed, the skin and a lot of other components are not easy repair materials.

Its a massive leap forward over what it replaced, I just think it’s an example of buying a Land-rover to haul groceries and gravel when you really needed an F150.