In 2015 the Airbus EC725 (later H225M) Caracal was pre-selected by the Polish Armed Forces as their new main helicopter, chosen over the PZL Mielec (Sikorsky) S-70i, which faced integration issues with the requested weaponry, and the PZL-Swidnik (AgustaWestland) AW149, which couldn't meet the requested delivery schedule.
Initial plans called for 50 units to replace the tri-service fleet of Mil Mi-8, Mi-14, and Mi-17 helicopters. These would be divided into 16 transport, 13 Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), 8 Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), 8 Special Operations (SOS), and 5 medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) helicopters.
A Caracal Full Assembly Line (FAL) was set to be established through a joint venture with WZL1 in Lodz. The Turbomeca Makila 2 engines were also planned to be manufactured in Poland.
In May 2015, the H225M successfully passed army trials at the 33rd Air Base over the course of two weeks. By October 2015, the total procurement cost was estimated to be around $3.5 billion.
In August 2015, a new government took office in Poland. In December, news reports indicated that the helicopter tender would be reviewed after weaknesses were found in the Caracal offer.
In October 2016, the Polish government canceled the Caracal order. The negotiating positions of the two sides regarding the purchase of 50 Caracal helicopters for 13.5 billion zlotys (3.14 billion euros) were so different that further talks were deemed pointless. This decision reopened the door to the helicopter makers that had failed in the original tender, mainly the Black Hawk.
In April 2019, the Polish Navy ordered AW101.
Initial plans called for 50 units to replace the tri-service fleet of Mil Mi-8, Mi-14, and Mi-17 helicopters. These would be divided into 16 transport, 13 Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), 8 Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), 8 Special Operations (SOS), and 5 medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) helicopters.
A Caracal Full Assembly Line (FAL) was set to be established through a joint venture with WZL1 in Lodz. The Turbomeca Makila 2 engines were also planned to be manufactured in Poland.
In May 2015, the H225M successfully passed army trials at the 33rd Air Base over the course of two weeks. By October 2015, the total procurement cost was estimated to be around $3.5 billion.
In August 2015, a new government took office in Poland. In December, news reports indicated that the helicopter tender would be reviewed after weaknesses were found in the Caracal offer.
In October 2016, the Polish government canceled the Caracal order. The negotiating positions of the two sides regarding the purchase of 50 Caracal helicopters for 13.5 billion zlotys (3.14 billion euros) were so different that further talks were deemed pointless. This decision reopened the door to the helicopter makers that had failed in the original tender, mainly the Black Hawk.
In April 2019, the Polish Navy ordered AW101.
