Greetings and salutation,
Does anybody know if the AW101 helicopters ordered by the Polish Navy have folding tails and rotors or not? Cheers.
Miecznik: The Current State of the Most Important Modernisation Programme of the Polish Navy – MILMAG
The second press briefing on the implementation of the Miecznik (“Swordfish”) Programme, which took place on 8 April in Gdynia, provided information on the current progress of the project, as well as further details on the selected configuration of the armament system of the planned series of ships.milmag.pl
On board the Miecznik will be a space for a maximum of two large Leonardo AW101 Merlin helicopters, although actually one because only one can be placed in the hangar. Analyses are currently being carried out as to whether it will be possible to redesign the ship in such a way that it will accommodate a helicopter of a type without a folded tail boom, i.e. the Merlin aircraft which have been ordered for the needs of the Aviation Group in Darłowo of the 44th Naval Aviation Base.This text comes from MILMAG Military Magazine. Read more on:https://milmag.pl/en/miecznik-the-c...t-modernisation-programme-of-the-polish-navy/
SWAG means "scientific wild-assed guess." Basically an informed guess that even the author/speaker/originator suspects may be inaccurate.
SWAG=Semi-wild-ass guess.
Edit:
I see one article that suggests the Polish AW101s do not have a folding tail, which limits their ability to fit the new frigates.
Miecznik: The Current State of the Most Important Modernisation Programme of the Polish Navy – MILMAG
The second press briefing on the implementation of the Miecznik (“Swordfish”) Programme, which took place on 8 April in Gdynia, provided information on the current progress of the project, as well as further details on the selected configuration of the armament system of the planned series of ships.milmag.pl
On board the Miecznik will be a space for a maximum of two large Leonardo AW101 Merlin helicopters, although actually one because only one can be placed in the hangar. Analyses are currently being carried out as to whether it will be possible to redesign the ship in such a way that it will accommodate a helicopter of a type without a folded tail boom, i.e. the Merlin aircraft which have been ordered for the needs of the Aviation Group in Darłowo of the 44th Naval Aviation Base.This text comes from MILMAG Military Magazine. Read more on:https://milmag.pl/en/miecznik-the-c...t-modernisation-programme-of-the-polish-navy/
I know there was also (c. 2020) a requirement for a small number of much lighter helicopters to replace the SH-2G aboard other ships.
Polish Navy seeks Multi-Role Helicopters
The Armament Inspectorate announced that a technical dialogue has been launched with regards to a “Multi-role [Naval] Embarked Helicopter for the Polish Navy”. Most probably the aircraft would operate from the OHP frigates and ORP Ślązak patrol vessel. Potentially they could also get embarked on...defence24.com
(This article from 2020 mentions the AS565 Panther or the AW159 Wildcat as candidates)
Poland’s Diverse Military Air Requirements - Armada International
Poland’s Air Force acquisition programmes that strive to replace Soviet-era airframes with NATO compatible ones have suffered from frequent delays.www.armadainternational.com
(This one from 2021 mentions Wildcat or the Bell 412)
Probably intended as a form/fit/function replacement of the land-based Mi-14?
I realise that the SH-2G needs replacing nearly as urgently as the Mil-14 but as the Polish Navy could only afford four out of the eight required AW101 you would think that they would ensure their AW101 would be shipboard compatible with the Miecznik class frigates.