Aircraft
Airbus Helicopters Responds To Polish H225M Cancellation
A frank statement provides unusually detailed public insight into offset talks for 50 H225Ms. Meanwhile, Poland ordered some rival S-70i Blackhawks.
Polish defense ministry officials held a press conference to explain the ending of talks with Airbus Helicopters. (Photo: Polish Ministry of Defence)
Polish defense ministry officials held a press conference to explain the ending of talks with Airbus Helicopters. (Photo: Polish Ministry of Defence)

In an “open letter to the Polish Prime Minister,”Airbus Helicopters chief executive officer Guillaume Faury today provided a long account of the failed offset negotiations for 50 H225M Caracal medium multirole helicopters. The Polish government ended the year-long talks last week and held a press conference to explain the decision. The H225M had been selected in April 2015 to replace the Polish Army’s large fleet of Mil Mi-8/17s, in preference to the Leonardo AW149 or Sikorsky S-70i BlackHawk. Poland said yesterday it would place a smaller order for the S-70i.