Leonardo and the Polish Armaments Group unveil next-gen W-3 helicopter concept

Leonardo, through its industrial pillar in the Polish helicopter sector PZL-Świdnik, and the Polish Armaments Group, jointly with the Polish aviation industry and R&D centers, is presenting a next-generation multirole military helicopter concept based on a legacy W-3 Sokół platform at MSPO 2019.

The new concept comprises state-of-the-art technologies offered by the Polish aviation industry. In the future this solution could meet the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces for a new generation of battlefield support helicopters. The collaborative project oversees a major modification of the W-3 platform which is the basis of the helicopter fleet of the Polish Armed Forces. Only the latest and already tested technologies available on the market have been used for the new concept, without compromising the Polish military needs through the guarantee of shorter delivery times, high level of reliability and savings in terms of the acquisition and operating costs.

The helicopter will be equipped with new blades and main rotor and a fully digital avionics system, covering a glass cockpit, flight management system (FMS), synthetic vision system (SVS), digital maps and terrain avoidance warning system (TAWS), as well as a four-axis digital autopilot, new communication system, an engine FADEC and health & usage monitoring system (HUMS).

All of this, combined with mission equipment and additional 200 kg of useful load (owing to an increase from 6,400 kg to 6,600 kg MTOW) will offer remarkable improvement in terms of performance and the operational capability of the helicopter.

On display at MSPO 2019 there will be a mock-up of the new generation W-3 concept helicopter's cockpit. This concept further highlights the stringent global standard capabilities of the Polish aviation industry and how it can meet the battlefield demands of the Polish Armed Forces as well as the mission needs of the Polish military end-users. The type will meet latest requirements of NATO countries to remain in service for another 30 years and overcome a design generation gap between previous and latest generation systems. The venture will also see a significant technology transfer from Leonardo to PZL-Świdnik which, in turn, will enable the Polish aviation industry to further consolidate its growth domestically.

Gian Piero Cutillo, Leonardo Helicopters' MD, said: “A key significance in the development of the new generation W-3 concept helicopter is through the transfer of technology with a view to guarantee to clients the operational autonomy and the broadest possible involvement of Polish industry. Particularly, the major role of our long-term partner, i.e. the Polish Armaments Group and companies belonging to it, which will be involved to a high degree in all phases of the project starting with the design, through to development, and the production which will support the helicopter into the future.”

Sebastian Chwałek, vice president of the Polish Armaments Group, said, “Companies of our group bring into the modernization project several state-of-art solutions and competencies, including among others weapon systems equipped with guided and unguided missiles and firearms. Integration of those solutions on W-3 helicopter will allow this rotorcraft to support effectively soldiers in deployment of the tasks set on them, at the same time guaranteeing to the Armed Forces permanent access to munitions that can be used also by other armies of the NATO.”

The next generation W-3 helicopter will provide the Polish Armed Forces with advanced battlefield support capabilities through a wide range of mission equipment, covering fully integrated armaments system (air-to-air missiles, anti-tank missiles, 70mm rocket pods, cannon pods (12.7/20 mm), machine gun installed in a cabin) and an integrated defensive aids system, an electro optical surveillance system, NVG compatibility and head up display.

The helicopter will be able to perform a wide range of missions, including troop transport, special forces insertion/extraction, CSAR, intelligence, surveillance and armed reconnaissance, and medevac/casevac.

https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/leonardo-and-the-polish-armaments-group-unveil-next-gen-w-3-helicopter-concept/