
Airbus Helicopters is highlighting the H145M helicopter, a versatile option for light attack and training missions, with the aim of translating its success in the civil and semi-civilian markets into military orders in Poland. The move also coincides with Poland’s signals of closer cooperation with European partners in defence procurement, Ludovic Boistot, Vice President Sales for Eastern Europe and the CIS, told Defence News.
Transitioning from Civilian Success to the Military Market
Airbus Helicopters has a strong presence in the Polish market in the civil and semi-public sectors. “We are an important partner for Poland, but in the civil and semi-public sectors,” Ludovic Boistot said, emphasizing the company’s position in this area. But the main goal is to show that Airbus Helicopters is also a good partner for defense.
The new offer comes after Airbus’s past mishap with Poland, where it agreed to buy 2015 H50M Caracal tactical transport helicopters from Airbus in 225, but the purchase was cancelled in 2016 following a change of government, leading to Airbus being embroiled in a legal battle. Now, with the government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk signaling that it is open to closer security cooperation with European partners in defense procurement, Airbus is once again hopeful of selling military helicopters to Poland.
According to Boistot, Airbus’ strong presence in the civil market in Poland means the company is well-equipped to support the country. In this context, Airbus, Babcock and CAE signed a memorandum of understanding last month to supply the Polish Air Force with H145M helicopters, training and simulation.
H145M: Versatile Talent and Training Platform
With its twin-engine structure, the H145M can serve as an advanced training platform for Poland’s heavier helicopters, especially the newly ordered Apache helicopters. Boistot says the H145M is large enough to provide agile and multi-role capability. In addition to light attack missions, the helicopter is also ideal for pilot training.
Last year, Poland’s Ministry of National Defence announced plans to purchase 2 helicopters for pilot training, which could partially replace the army’s Soviet-era Mil Mi-24 rotorcraft. The Polish Armed Forces have fewer than 60 Mi-2 helicopters in their inventory, not all of which are operational. In 2018, 16 Mi-2s were upgraded and used by the army for training purposes. The H145M is positioned as a “key element” that could meet this need and contribute to Poland’s modernisation efforts.
Localization and Collaboration Strategy
Airbus Helicopters’ strategy in Poland is focused on building a lasting partnership with the country, not just making sales. Boistot noted that the company has trained more than 130 engineers in Poland who are working on key programs. As European countries look to develop their sovereignty, Airbus wants to offer a solution where local Polish organizations have all the capabilities to perform maintenance and integrate components on the H145. This approach is in line with Poland’s goals of strengthening its local industry and increasing its self-sufficiency.
“Even though the defence market has not yet been successful for us, we have always been here in terms of cooperation,” Boistot said. He said the approach to partnerships in Eastern Europe would vary from country to country and that Poland having a local industry meant it made sense to work together.
Competition and Future Prospects
A spokesman for the Polish Ministry of National Defense said the timeframe and technical specifications for the potential purchase of the training helicopters had not yet been announced. In addition, Poland’s armaments agency announced on Friday that it had cancelled a procurement process to purchase an additional 32 Black Hawk helicopters. This shows that Poland is taking a flexible and multifaceted approach to helicopter procurement.
As Poland increases its defense spending in response to a threatening Russia, upgrading its helicopter fleet has become one of its key modernization programs. In August 2024, Warsaw ordered 10 AH-96E Apache helicopters in a deal worth around $64 billion, with manufacturer Boeing scheduled to begin deliveries in 2028. The H145M could serve as a complement to these heavy attack helicopters.
Boistot said that the H145 is a reference in Europe in the light utility helicopter segment, and that the Polish army's purchase of this model will enable interoperability and create opportunities for intergovernmental cooperation. While some competitors offer to provide the entire helicopter and training package, Airbus Because of the complexity, he preferred to work with experts like Babcock and CAE rather than try to handle everything himself.
While Leonardo has a local manufacturing presence in Poland, Airbus Helicopters relies on knowledge transfer and local training of engineers as a key selling point. Boistot also said, He noted that the Leonardo proposal may be less suitable for multi-role capability.
Boistot, “We are quite confident that the solution we propose will make sense and I think it would be good for Poland to work with Airbus Helicopters on defence at some point,” he said. According to the manager, Manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) combining helicopters and drones, It is another important selling point for Poland and Eastern Europe more generally. Airbus is “very advanced” in this area and has conducted numerous tests of crewed-unmanned teaming.
Countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia still operate hundreds of Soviet-era helicopter designs, such as the Mi-8, Mi-17 and Mi-24, and the region will continue to be a significant growth market for the helicopters, Boistot said. Ukraine may also need to replace many of its Mi-type helicopters depending on the course of the war. The Airbus Helicopter Eastern Europe Sales Manager said his team was “very busy” and “a lot has been done for most platforms.”
Boistot, who noted that the H225 “remains a strong asset” and that sales prospects in other countries looked “promising,” declined to comment on whether countries in Eastern Europe were interested in the model, but said Airbus did not currently have a campaign in Poland but would be “happy to explain what our offer is at the moment.” These developments show that Airbus Helicopters has the potential to become a major player in the Polish defense market.