Polish armed forces receive upgraded W-3 helos
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
04 July 2016



PZL-Swidnik has handed over to the Polish armed forces the last upgraded W-3PL Gluszec and the first upgraded W-3RM Anakonda platforms, the Leonardo Helicopters subsidiary announced.

The handovers, which took place at the company's Swidnik site on 27 June, saw the last four of eight W-3PLs delivered to the army and the first two of five enhanced W-3RMs given over to the navy in a ceremony that was attended by the Minister of National Defence, Antoni Macierewicz, and other top-level political, military, and industry dignitaries.

Developed by PZL-Swidnik, the Polish Armed Forces, and the Air Force Institute of Technology, the W-3PL Gluszec is equipped with a modern 'glass' cockpit that incorporates a head-up display and new mission avionics; a roof-mounted Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Toplite electro-optic/infrared turret; a chin-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun turret; a double-barreled 27 mm cannon; 57/70/80 mm rocket pods; air-to-air missiles; small-diameter bombs; and chaff/flare and infrared countermeasures.




According to the PZL-Swidnik, the W-3PL will be utilised by the 56th Air Base at Inowroclaw for combat search and rescue (CSAR), troop transport, convoy protection, assault, and surveillance duties.

The handover of the final four platforms brings to an end a delivery schedule which was begun in December 2010. The W-3PLs are expected to remain in service until 2025-30.

The W-3RM Anakonda is being upgraded to a "state-of-the-art maritime rescue version" for the Naval Aviation Brigade, PZL-Swidnik noted, though it did not disclose details of the work. According to IHS Jane's All the World's Aircraft: Development & Production , the baseline W-3RM features a watertight cabin, six inflatable flotation bags, and an additional window in the lower part of the flight deck door. It is understood that the upgrade might include a more advanced engine control system and a deck lock for shipboard deployment.



http://www.janes.com/article/61969/p...aded-w-3-helos