RYZSARD JAXA-MALACHOWSKI / WARSAW
French manufacturer leads efforts to stimulate Polish economy with offset package
Dassault has launched its Polish fighter campaign, offering the Mirage 2000-5Mk2, as MBD Aproposes a munitions package including the Mica infrared and radar-guided air-to-air missiles, and Brimstone, Scalp EG and Exocet air-to-surface weapons.
The French fighter manufacturer, teamed with MBDA, Snecma and Thales, is also offering an offset deal "focused on speeding up Polish economic development". Poland needs 48 fighters - other candidates are the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D and Saab/BAE Systems Gripen.
Dassault's offset offer includes defence and commercial aviation proposals, as well as technology transfer. Half the offset will be direct. PZL Swidnik is already supplying Mirage 2000 cockpits and control surfaces for Dassault's Falcon business jet family. Snecma has links with Swidnik, PZL Rzeszow, PZL Mielec, Kalis and Hydral of Wroclaw.
Final assembly of Polish Mirages would be undertaken by Mielec, which has already signed an agreement. Thales already employees 6,000 people in Poland through a series of non-defence related investments over the last 10 years.
A suggestion that Dassault could locate Mirage III/F1 maintenance in Poland has not been repeated, but could be reprised when the formal offer is submitted on 11 November. Mirage 2000 maintenance would be in Poland.
Other organisations mentioned in the offer, but not connected to a specific programme are the Aviation Institute, the Aviation Institute of Military Technology, Mesco, Radmor and Radwar. Programmes on offer include weapons and radar technology acquisition, while Snecma is proposing to build a factory at Sedziszow employing 150.
Indirect offset includes food, heavy and steel industries, infrastructure and ecological programmes. The creation of investment funds and bodies supporting and promoting Polish exports have also been proposed.
Source: Flight International
