On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the Polish Police officially received the final S-70i Black Hawk multi-role helicopter purchased under the tripartite agreement signed on December 9, 2022, between the Commander-in-Chief of Police (KGP), the Commander-in-Chief of the State Fire Service (KG PSP), and the President of the Management Board of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW).
Photos: National Police Headquarters
The official handover of the helicopter took place at the PZL Mielec, owned by the American company Lockheed Martin. The symbolic keys were received by the Commander-in-Chief of Police, Inspector General Marek Boroń. As of today, the Police Aviation Unit operates five helicopters of this type.
Operational Use of the Black Hawk Fleet So Far
The Police Aviation Unit received the first three Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk International multi-role helicopters, manufactured by PZL Mielec and purchased under the Modernization Program for Uniformed Services subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) during 2018–2019. Two S-70i helicopters were delivered on November 30, 2018, under a contract signed on May 30 of the same year, valued at 142.66 million PLN. The third helicopter was ordered on November 19, 2018, for 65.04 million PLN net, with delivery completed by the end of March 2019.
These helicopters are characterized by their versatility and high reliability. They are equipped with modern navigation systems that enable flights in challenging weather conditions and at night. Additionally, they feature devices that support precise landings in confined spaces, enhancing their utility in crisis situations. The Black Hawks also boast impressive performance parameters. They achieve a cruising speed of 297 km/h, have a range of 650 km, which can be extended to 950 km with additional fuel tanks. Operating the S-70i requires a minimum crew of three, and the helicopter can carry up to 13 passengers on board.
In the following years, efforts continued to gradually strengthen the police aviation fleet. On September 4, 2023, the first of two helicopters of this type entered service, purchased under a tripartite agreement signed in 2022 between the Chief of Police, the Chief Commander of the State Fire Service, and the President of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), as well as a second bilateral agreement for the delivery of new multi-role helicopters by PZL Mielec, including a training package, spare parts, and equipment. The final helicopter acquired under this program was delivered in November of this year. From this point on, the Polish Police fleet includes five helicopters, making it one of the most advanced forces in this regard on the continent.
From the very beginning, these helicopters have supported numerous key police operations, including serving as support for the Border Guard on the eastern border or participating in various missions such as firefighting efforts in Turkey and the Czech Republic (as well as domestically, near Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą and in the Biebrza National Park). On a daily basis, they are also used in police operations involving counterterrorism units from the Central Counterterrorism Subdivision of the Police (BOA) or officers of the Central Investigation Bureau of Police (CBŚP). They are utilized for personnel transport, search operations, and securing large public events. Additionally, they are an indispensable element of crisis response, such as evacuating residents from flooded areas during this year’s floods in southern Poland.
A Symbolic Ceremony in Mielec
Today’s ceremony in Mielec serves as a symbolic summary of the collaboration between the Police, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), the State Fire Service, and PZL Mielec.
Highlighting the importance of investing in the development of police aviation, Inspector General Marek Boroń, Chief of Police, said:
“The implementation of this program is not only an enhancement of our operational capabilities but, above all, a guarantee of safety for the residents of our country. Introducing the S-70i Black Hawk into the Polish Police marks a key step in modernizing police aviation. This investment demonstrates that the Police is effectively adapting to the challenges of the modern world. Thanks to funding from NFOŚiGW, we are gaining modern tools that support our efforts to protect the environment and improve the quality of life for our citizens.”
In a separate press release from PZL Mielec:
“Following the successful delivery of S-70 Black Hawk helicopters to the Polish Armed Forces, we are proud to expand the Polish National Police’s fleet with another aircraft” said Janusz Zakręcki, PZL Mielec President and General Director. “We are confident that the enlarged fleet of versatile, reliable and durable Black Hawk helicopters will meet the operational needs of the Polish National Police, enhancing the safety of citizens nationwide and supporting the Polish Rescue and Firefighting System.”
Support from NFOŚiGW
The purchase of Black Hawk S-70i helicopters was made possible through co-financing from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) as part of the project titled Helping and Protecting – Police and State Fire Service Safeguarding Biodiversity. The project included two key tasks: the purchase of multi-role Black Hawk helicopters along with personnel training and spare parts, and the acquisition of additional equipment for rescue and firefighting operations. This initiative aimed to support activities that contribute to environmental protection and the enhancement of public safety. The integration of police aviation into the crisis response system is crucial in situations such as forest fires, floods, or other natural disasters. The Chief Police Headquarters received funding of 340,000,000 PLN for this purpose under the NFOŚiGW’s Priority Program No. 7.3 Protection and Restoration of Biological and Landscape Diversity.
The Final Stages of Delivery and Training
The registration procedure for the last helicopter has now been completed. A scheduled training cycle for police pilots using the new machine has also taken place. This afternoon, the fifth Black Hawk was transferred to the Police Aviation Unit base in Warsaw’s Bemowo district.
On the eve of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Polish Police now operate a fleet of 14 helicopters, including five Black Hawks and seven Bell 407GXi.