The ceremony of handing over the long-awaited, and much needed, Black Hawk helicopters took place on December 20, 2019 at the 1st Transport Aviation Base. Among the officials present at the ceremony were President Andrzej Duda, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak, US Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher, head of the National Security Bureau Paweł Soloch, Special Forces Commander Brig. Sławomir Drumowicz and president of PZL Mielec Janusz Zakręcki.
Symbolically handed over during the ceremony, the S-70i Black Hawk helicopters were presented with, among other things, a rope disembarking system and winches, 12.7 mm M2 machine guns and 7.62 mm M134 Miniguns. The machines, apart from armament and color, do not differ much from those already used by the police.
It is worth noting the lack of some special helicopter equipment parts essential for military operations, and present on ones used by the Americans.
Helicopters do not have countermeasures system sensors, an optoelectronics head under the machine nose, exhaust diffusers on the engines, or (although it is not known if they were ordered at all) air refueling probes. According to unofficial information, at least two machines are soon to be transferred for retrofitting with on-board targeting systems, countermeasures systems with modern sensors and optoelectronics systems.
Due to the 7th "Special Action Squadron" already having crews trained in flying the S70is, the helicopters can enter service immediately.
Sources: defence24.pl, 123rf.com
