Poland has selected GE Aviation CT7-2E1 engines to power its on-order fleet of 32 Leonardo Helicopters AW149 super-medium twins.
Warsaw will receive 64 of the 2,000shp (1,490kW)-class turboshafts, plus an undisclosed number of spares, for the helicopters, deliveries of which are due to begin in 2023.
The more powerful Safran Helicopter Engines Aneto-1K, rated at 2,500shp, is offered as an alternative powerplant for the AW149.
“After evaluating engine alternatives for the AW149 helicopter, we concluded that the CT7-2E1 engines best meet our needs from all aspects, such as performance, maintenance cost, reliability, and commonality with our existing [Sikorsky S-70i] Black Hawk and AW101 helicopters as well as the future Apache helicopters,” says Brigadier General Artur Kuptel, head of Poland’s armaments agency.
CT7-8Es power the AW101s operated by the Polish navy, while T700-701D turboshafts equip the Black Hawks flown by the country’s special forces and national police.
