Polish helicopter manufacturer PZL-Swidnik is seeking a strategic partnership with a major European helicopter producer which could lead to licensed Polish manufacture of Western helicopters.
Swidnik declines to name its potential partners, but industry sources in Germany confirm that talks have been held with Eurocopter and Italy's Agusta. Both manufacturers already have work packages with Swidnik.
Siegfried Sobotta, Eurocopter Deutschland president, says there is no immediate prospect of a deeper industrial partnership, although this may change once Poland becomes a NATO member.
Swidnik is searching for new business as the Polish Government continues to delay the Huzar battlefield helicopter, a derivative of Swidnik's W-3 Sokol multi-role helicopter.
Meanwhile, the company's financial state is worsening after several years of waiting for the expected Government development funds for the 100-unit Polish army Huzar programme.
The partnership talks revolve around the company's identification of a market for a successor to the PZL-built Mil Mi-2. "This type has run out of possibilities, so [Swidnik] is looking at introducing an aircraft in this class on to the market at the beginning of the next decade, but it can't do this alone, "says one source.
PZL-Swidnik's own light helicopter programme, the SW-4, is grounded for now while the company installs hydraulic control boosters into its two flying prototypes - a decision taken after 80h of flight trials proved that the original controls were too heavy.
Flight tests are to resume in June. Swidnik hopes for certification by early 1999, and has signed a memorandum of understanding covering the sale of one SW-4 to the army for training and another to the ministry of internal affairs.
The Polish company says its production schedule for this year includes 12 Sokols, one Mi-2 and one Kania.
Source: Flight International
