On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Aviation Technology Department of the 3rd Regional Logistics Base in Kutno (3rd RBLog) published the results of a procurement procedure conducted under a negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice, concerning overhaul services for gearboxes (major repairs) and the supply of technical materials for PZL W-3 Sokół multirole helicopters in 2025.
W-3 Sokół from the 7th Air Squadron of the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade based in Tomaszów Mazowiecki
The sole criterion for selecting the offer was price (100%). On May 26, a contract worth 8,663,684.58 PLN was signed with Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów, based in Rzeszów.
As stated in the justification: “As a result of a market analysis conducted by the contracting authority regarding potential contractors, it was determined that due to the lack of alternative or substitute solutions, the contract can only be fulfilled by a single economic operator authorized to perform the scope of work—Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów S.A., ul. Hetmańska 120, 35-078 Rzeszów. This entity is the sole owner of the technical documentation and holds exclusive rights for the overhaul of the products covered by the contract, in accordance with: 1) Overhaul manual for the WR-3 main gearbox for W-3 and W-3A helicopters (document no. 64.1.001); 2) Overhaul manual for the intermediate gearbox for W-3A helicopters (document no. 64.1.002); 3) Overhaul manual for the tail gearbox for W-3A helicopters (document no. 64.1.003). Furthermore, Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów S.A. has not made these exclusive rights available to other entities in the past and has no intention to do so. The technical characteristics and complexity of the products also prevent other entities from performing the overhaul service. In addition, the company possesses the necessary know-how, technical capabilities, and trained personnel required to carry out the overhauls (major repairs) under the contract.”
Earlier, on April 2 of this year, the Aviation Technology Department of the 3rd RBLog signed a 28,224,168.70 PLN contract with PZL-Świdnik, a subsidiary of the Italian Leonardo Group, for major overhauls of Mi-2, W-3 Sokół, and SW-4 Puszczyk helicopters in 2025.
The Polish Armed Forces currently operate around 68 helicopters of the W-3 Sokół family, some of which will soon reach 40 years of service. On June 6, during a press briefing held by representatives of the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff, the General Command of the Armed Forces, and the Armaments Agency—in connection with the cancellation of the procurement process for 32 S-70i Black Hawk International helicopters—it was announced that among the current priorities are new search and rescue (SAR) helicopters, which may indicate that the 8 W-3WARM Anakonda helicopters, modernized in 2020, are now slated for retirement.