Leonardo and WZL1 Signed Contract for Long-Term Support of Polish M-346 "Bielik" Fleet
Leonardo and Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 S.A. (WZL1), part of the PGZ Group, have signed a contract for the long-term support of the Polish Air Force M-346 "Bielik" fleet, improving the existing cooperation.
Leveraging on Leonardo's significant knowledge and support experience with a global customer base, WZL1's long experience in supporting the operation of aircraft and systems belonging to the Polish Armed Forces – not to mention the extensive technical, logistic and infrastructural facilities of WZL1 close to the home base of operations for the AJT system - the service support agreement will allow for further increase in fleet availability to meet Polish Air Force's growing needs of training combat pilots.
Leonardo, as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), will be responsible for the engineering support services resulting from its role in the operation system and supply chain management. WZL1 will act as the main contractor, coordinating the entire process and complementing and supporting areas in which Leonardo is not directly involved. WZL1 is also responsible for direct cooperation with the end user.
Leonardo also cooperates with WZL1, on the basis of separate agreements, in training and establishing maintenance and repair competencies at Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 1 S.A. to support the operation of M-346 aircraft with the AJT system.
The experience derived from the support system for the operation of the global fleet of M-346 aircraft aims to guarantee the entire Logistics Support System of "Bielik" high process efficiency and technical and logistic support in the training system. The above is thanks to Leonardo's predictive maintenance approach and the technical and commercial cooperation with WZL1 as an experienced service provider according to global aviation standards.
Poland's M-346 "Bielik" system has also been certified by the US Air Force for the training of fourth and fifth-generation fighter pilots, an important milestone that has enabled Poland to train many of its students at home rather than abroad.
More than 100 M-346 aircraft have been ordered by major international air forces, including those of Italy, Israel, Poland, Singapore, Qatar, and Greece. The aircraft is also the backbone of the International Flight Training School (IFTS), a collaboration between Leonardo and the Italian Air Force, which has already been selected by Japan, Germany, Qatar, and Singapore.
