A Polish maintenance center for AH-64 Apaches will create skilled jobs and boost local repair capacity, officials say the pact also tightens US Poland defense ties.
Polish aviation enterprise (WZL No. 1) and the American Lockheed Martin consortium signed a contract for the servicing and repair of American AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, which will operate on Polish territory.
In Łódź, the signing was attended by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, according to official sources.
The contract became possible after the July 2024 agreement to purchase 96 AH-64E Guardian helicopters with a maintenance and repair option for a total of 10.8 billion US dollars.
Deal Context and the Role of the Partnership
“Thanks to the American Apache helicopters that will be serviced here in Poland, the country will be ready to repel an attack on the modern battlefield and respond to contemporary threats.”
– Donald Tusk
According to Tusk, developing the Apache maintenance center in Poland will enable the development of new competencies in the domestic industry and bolster the country’s defensive capabilities. He also stressed that Poland clearly understands who its allies are and who its enemies are.
For his part, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that this is one of the most important and largest contracts in the history of the Polish Army, and Poland will receive the second-largest number of American-made combat helicopters among the land forces.
“We are building a system of interconnected elements: F-35, Apache, Abrams and drone swarms that will cover all branches of the armed forces”
– Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
Prospects for Defense Technologies and Industry
According to expert assessments, the deal will spur collaboration in defense technologies and the creation of joint research and development efforts, including in the context of joint weapons production between Poland and the United States.
It is expected that the implementation of the contract will raise the potential of Poland’s defense industry, strengthen the armed forces’ combat readiness, and bolster transatlantic security and defense ties.