Poland has cancelled its planned acquisition of 32 additional S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for its armed forces, the Polish Armament Agency announced on Friday. The decision marks a possible shift in defence priorities in response to changing security dynamics.
Grzegorz Polak, spokesperson for the Agency, told Reuters that the cancellation followed a reassessment of Poland’s strategic defence requirements. “It may be necessary to procure other equipment instead, such as drones, tanks, or communication systems,” Polak stated.
He noted that the move represented a “correction” in procurement strategy, shaped by evolving geopolitical circumstances and national security needs.
The scrapped deal, initiated in 2023 under the former Law and Justice (PiS) government, had involved negotiations for 32 Black Hawk helicopters produced by Lockheed Martin’s Polish subsidiary, PZL Mielec.
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The decision drew sharp criticism from PiS MP and former defence minister Mariusz Błaszczak, who described it as a “disgrace” in a post on social media platform X. He warned that the cancellation would delay efforts to modernise Poland’s helicopter fleet.
Nonetheless, Poland continues to pursue broader military modernisation. In August 2024, the country signed a contract with the United States to purchase 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. These aircraft are expected to enhance Poland’s offensive and reconnaissance capabilities and replace ageing Soviet-era Mi-24 gunships.
Polak stressed that the Armament Agency’s procurement decisions are guided by classified military plans and not made independently.
