Poland has started the construction of an industrial maintenance center dedicated to AH-64E Apache-helicopters, as a new step to strengthen the country’s military capacity and support the operation of one of Europe’s most powerful attack fleets.
The project was officially launched after the signing of two implementation agreements on offset between Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze nr 1 (WZL1) in Łódź, part of the Polish Defense Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa), and the American company Lockheed Martinstrategic partner in the Apache program.
The new structure will be established in Łódź, with a branch in Dęblin, and will form the industrial maintenance center for Apache helicopters. The initiative is expected to become a central part of the logistical, technical and industrial support of the future Polish fleet.
The offset agreements have a value of around 300 millionaire zloty (approx. 70 million euros) and will be carried out over five years. In practice, they enable Poland to strengthen its independence within the maintenance, repair and support of one of the world’s most advanced combat aircraft systems.
The progress is directly linked to the agreement signed in 2024 with the US government for the acquisition of 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The package includes training, logistical support, ammunition and spare parts, and constitutes one of the largest military programs the country has ever entered into.
Of Apache AH-64E Guardian will mainly be used to support ground forces, but will also play an important role in air defense, particularly against drones and low-flying targets. With this purchase, Poland is on track to become the world’s second largest operator of Apache helicopters, behind only the United States.
Amid rising tensions on Europe’s eastern flank, the establishment of a separate structure to support this fleet strengthens not only Poland’s operational capacity, but also the country’s strategic importance within NATO.
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Source and images: Polska Grupa Zbrojeniow – X @PGZ_pl | Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej – X @MON_GOV_PL. This content has been created with the help of KI and reviewed by the editors.
