Aircraft
Poland Retains Su-22s, Wants New Attack Helicopters
Poland will retain a squadron of Su-22M strike aircraft for another 10 years. This is one of a pair that visited the Royal International Air Tattoo in the UK last month. (Photo: Chris Pocock)
Poland will retain a squadron of Su-22M strike aircraft for another 10 years. This is one of a pair that visited the Royal International Air Tattoo in the UK last month. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

Faced with a worsening security situation in neighboring Ukraine, Poland has issued a requirement for new attack helicopters that could be worth more than $1.3 billion. Meanwhile, however, the country’s choice of 72 new multirole helicopters worth nearly $2.7 billion remains undecided. Budget shortfalls continue to frustrate the armed forces’ desire for new equipment. Earlier this year, Poland decided to retain one squadron of aging Su-22 strike aircraft for up to 10 more years, since it cannot afford a replacement.