UH-60 Black hawk

Sikorsky Aircraft has pulled out from a $3bn contract to supply 70 medium-lift utility helicopters to the Polish Armed Forces.

The company had partnered with PZL Mielec to offer its UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, but has decided to withdraw, unless the terms of the procedure are amended.

Sikorsky said in a statement: "The technical, legal and economic terms set by the Ministry of National Defence preclude us from participating in the procurement procedure.

"The decision of the consortium is not a negotiation tactic as has been described and is not meant to exert any pressure on the Ministry of National Defence.

"We only want to give the Polish Armed Forces the option to consider one of the best and certainly the most proven utility helicopter in the world.

"The technical, legal and economic terms set by the Ministry of National Defence preclude us from participating in the procurement procedure."

"However, it is impossible to submit an economically viable offer that would be 100% compliant with each and every requirement, including technical, legal and financial aspects."

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Meanwhile, the Polish Defence Ministry said: "The final requirements concerning the multi-role helicopter have been known since May 2014, and [the] Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation has such helicopters within the product range they offer.

"The Ministry was and is ready to conduct equal dialogue with all the bidders, but in no proceedings it will succumb to pressure of the potential contractor as far as the terms of order are concerned."

Airbus Group and PZL Swidnik are the other two companies bidding for the contract, which represents part of Poland’s plan to spend $27bn to modernise its military, Bloomberg reported.


Image: The Sikorsky Aircraft and PZL Mielec consortium had offered UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for the contract. Photo: © 2009 PZL Mielec.

Defence Technology