Poland Delivers First Locally Produced AW-149 Helicopter to Air Cavalry Brigade

The 25th Air Cavalry Brigade has received its first AW-149 multirole helicopter built entirely in Poland, marking a key milestone in the country’s defense modernization efforts. Under a 2022 contract for 32 helicopters, the first 10 were manufactured in Italy, while the remaining 22 are being produced at PZL-Świdnik.
The handover ceremony took place at the military airfield in Nowy Glinnik, where officials highlighted the importance of domestic production capabilities. The AW-149, developed in partnership with Italy’s Leonardo group, is designed for a wide range of missions and can operate both day and night.
PZL-Świdnik representatives reported that the first Polish-built helicopter was completed 15 months after the agreement was signed, with full production capability reached within 20 months. To date, 11 AW-149s have been delivered to the brigade as part of the ongoing modernization program.