The Polish Council of Ministers has recommended the launch of a new tender for an avionics and weapons systems integrator for the planned Huzar battlefield helicopter, based on the PZL Swidnik W-3 Sokol airframe.
The recommendation has been made following the results of the Supreme Chamber of Control investigation into irregularities in a Government-level memorandum of understanding signed by the outgoing Polish Government after it lost the last election.
The memorandum named an Israeli consortium as supplier of the missiles and avionics for the helicopter. The consortium included missile supplier Rafael, together with Elbit as systems integrator.
The decision once again opens the field for Boeing, Elbit's chief competitor for the integration contract, which is leading a bid including contributions from more than 20 companies. The Polish decision is believed to make Boeing the favourite to win the $350 million contract for 100 helicopters for the Polish army.
The earlier decision in favour of Rafael's NT-D anti-tank missile still stands, subject to the successful completion of a series of test launches. If the missile fails these tests, the road is clear for rival bids from Boeing with the Hellfire 2, GEC-Marconi with the Brimstone and the Euromissile HOT 3.
Until now, the Israeli Government has insisted that it would not consider breaking up its industrial consortium with a separate avionics integration contract, and would refuse to release NT-D technology unless it also wins the avionics bid.
According to Government sources, however, this stance is now softening.
Source: Flight International
