The PZL-Świdnik plant, owned by the Italian aerospace group Leonardo, is one of the key pillars of Polish–Italian cooperation in the defense industry. Following the launch of the AW149 helicopter assembly line, the Świdnik facility now produces these aircraft domestically and is preparing to execute further contracts for the Polish Armed Forces. The company also hopes to secure an order for AW109 TrekkerM light attack and training helicopters, which could be manufactured entirely in Świdnik. Thanks to technology transfer and the sharing of know-how, the Polish plant has become an important participant in Leonardo’s global helicopter programs.
“Leonardo is heavily investing in Poland, in PZL-Świdnik, which is fully integrated into Leonardo’s technological and industrial network. The company serves as the Group’s center of excellence for aerostructures and is Poland’s only OEM helicopter manufacturer with complete industrial capabilities — from design and development to production and servicing throughout the helicopter’s lifecycle. One of the projects we are currently working on is the AW109 TrekkerM training and combat helicopter. If the Polish government chooses this model, the entire production and testing process will take place in Poland,” said Marco Lupo, President of Leonardo Poland, in an interview with Newseria.
PZL-Świdnik has been part of Leonardo since 2010, and over PLN 1 billion has been invested in the plant since then. Additional multi-million investments are now underway to further expand production capacity. According to company representatives, these investments are also crucial for strengthening Poland’s defense resilience, as PZL-Świdnik is included in the national defense mobilization plan and can be activated to support the Armed Forces. In 2022, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MON) signed a contract with the company for 32 AW149 helicopters worth PLN 8.25 billion gross. In June 2024, the assembly line in Świdnik officially began producing these aircraft for the Polish military.
“PZL-Świdnik is a key component in building defense capabilities and resilience. It’s a very modern plant with vast experience. Our growth has been tremendous — we’ve acquired many new technologies. A major milestone for us was signing and implementing the contract with the Polish Armed Forces for the AW149 helicopter,” emphasized Bartosz Mateusz Śliwa, CEO of PZL-Świdnik.
The dynamic development of the Świdnik facility results from extensive technology transfers and hands-on training of its staff in Leonardo’s Italian plants. Part of the Polish workforce trained at Leonardo’s Vergiate facility, where the first AW149 helicopters for Poland were built. The experience gained there was instrumental in launching the Polish assembly line.
“The role of PZL-Świdnik in Leonardo’s helicopter programs worldwide is crucial. About 80 percent of our aerostructure production is delivered to Leonardo plants in the U.S., the U.K., and Italy — meaning that there isn’t a single Leonardo helicopter flying today without components made in Poland,” added Śliwa.
Currently, PZL-Świdnik employs around 3,500 people, while roughly 1,000 Polish suppliers form an extensive network providing parts and services to the company.
“PZL-Świdnik has experienced a tremendous, nearly tenfold increase in scale — from PLN 300 million in revenue to PLN 3 billion. Our workforce has been trained using the latest training models, and we have strong investment prospects, which makes me very optimistic about the future,” Śliwa said. “Our key project is the delivery of AW149 helicopters to the Polish Army. We are also counting on new military contracts — especially for the AW109 TrekkerM, a light training and combat helicopter that we would like to supply to train new pilots. We know the armed forces need many pilots, and with multiple helicopter programs ongoing, PZL-Świdnik is fully prepared to meet all requirements from our defense clients. We can deliver a helicopter fully designed, built, and tested in Poland.”
The Leonardo Group is also interested in participating in other modernization programs of the Polish Air Force, including the procurement of 32 new fighter jets currently under consideration by the Ministry of National Defence.
“Our proposal includes 32 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, jointly produced by the founding countries — Italy, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Leonardo, as one of the industrial partners of the Eurofighter consortium, has prepared an offer for Poland that would ensure approximately 40–50 percent of the investment’s value remains in Poland,” explained Marco Lupo. “This would provide significant benefits for Polish defense and enable the participation of the Polish aerospace industry in one of the most advanced aviation projects in the world. We are convinced that this would substantially enhance the capabilities of Poland’s aerospace sector.”
