Industry is expecting the Czech Republic and Poland to seek separate tenders forMil Mi-24 Hind modernisation, effectively ending a joint Visegrad upgrade. Hungary and Slovakia were also participating in the programme, which could have covered more than 100 of the Soviet-era attack helicopters.
Poland is expected to release a tender next month, with the Czech Republic following by year-end. Both are expected to offer the other three nations a role in their national programmes.
A source in Warsaw says the joint Visegrad programme is unlikely to happen, adding that the proposal has been plagued by workshare disputes between the four countries, although some problems appeared to have been resolved earlier this year (Flight International, 17-23 June). Poland is also expected to initially modify only 18 machines, although the intended 40-helicopter programme could be achieved in stages.
An industry official says many viewed the programme as four competitions. While the prototype- to be built by WZL-1 in Lodz, Poland - was to be commonly funded, it represented only a baseline configuration on to which each nation would integrate preferred communications, navigation, weapons and other systems.
Expected bidders include South Africa's ATE, BAE Systems, Elbit Systems/Lockheed Martin, Eurocopter, Israel Aircraft Industries, Rosboronexport teamed with France's Sagem, and Thales.
Source: Flight International
