The T-3 wind tunnel operated by the Łukasiewicz Research Network has been commissioned at Warsaw’s Okęcie district. It is the largest facility of its kind in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. Its PLN 105 million modernisation, financed through Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, could accelerate innovative projects in the aviation, defence and space sectors.
The new facility will be available to scientists, domestic manufacturers — including both large industrial companies and small and medium-sized enterprises — as well as global corporations.
“Both the economy and Polish science are benefiting from the National Recovery Plan. This wind tunnel is a good example. It is an investment worth PLN 105 million and one of the largest projects undertaken by the Łukasiewicz Research Network,” Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, told the Newseria news agency.
“It has created research infrastructure that will be used by both Polish science and the Polish economy.”
“We are talking about the modernisation of a wind tunnel, but in practice we can describe it as an entirely new facility. Only the original structure remained, while all key components were replaced,” said Hubert Cichocki, President of the Łukasiewicz Centre.
The modernised T-3 wind tunnel was presented on 29 July by the Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation, which is part of the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
It forms part of the Research and Development Centre for Innovative Aircraft Propulsion Systems and Structures at Warsaw’s Okęcie district.
The T-3 tunnel was originally constructed in the 1950s. For decades, it supported research and development work on aircraft including the Iskra, Iryda, Wilga and Dromader, as well as the W-3 Sokół helicopter.
“This direction will not only introduce additional innovation into the economy, but will also contribute to the development of the defence, space and, above all, aviation sectors. This is precisely what the ministry and the Łukasiewicz Research Network are focusing on together,” the Minister of Science and Higher Education said.
“Polish scientists will no longer need to travel abroad to carry out their research, while researchers from other countries will be able to come to Poland.
“The tunnel will create enormous opportunities not only for science, but above all for the Polish economy. It will certainly help the world’s 20th-largest economy continue to move higher in the rankings.”
The research infrastructure is intended to support defence projects financed largely through the European Defence Fund, as well as dual-use technologies connected with the space sector and financed by the European Space Agency.
“This is a symbolic day because it clearly demonstrates how Polish science and research infrastructure can support national defence and companies operating in the defence industry,” Cichocki said.
“Defence companies will be able to use the tunnel to test their products and components of final products, as well as to conduct joint research and development work with us.”
The new infrastructure has also been developed with small and medium-sized companies from the rapidly growing unmanned-platform and new-space markets in mind.
“Thanks to the tunnel, we will be able to provide services not only to companies based in Poland, but also to international businesses. This is a unique testing facility on a European scale,” said Associate Professor Cezary Szczepański, Director of the Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation.
“We have already secured research contracts with some of the world’s largest corporations, including companies based not only in Europe but also on other continents.
“We already have a fairly long list of partners who were waiting for the modernisation to be completed so that we could begin testing.
“The parameters achieved during the trials have extended the waiting list to approximately 18 months, which I am very pleased about.”
According to Kulasek, the investment strengthens Poland’s position as a credible partner for international consortia participating in European programmes.
At the same time, it improves Poland’s technological independence by reducing researchers’ reliance on foreign infrastructure.
The tunnel will support a range of projects carried out within the Łukasiewicz Research Network, particularly in ground transport, energy, construction and defence systems.
The investment is also expected to make it easier to commercialise research results.
“Thanks to the modernisation, we have moved several levels higher in terms of measurement quality and research capabilities,” Szczepański said.
“We can learn much more about what happens around an object exposed to airflow, which has a significant impact on how that object behaves.
“For example, we can determine how much energy or fuel a car requires to travel 100 kilometres, how fast an aircraft can fly or how much noise it will generate, because aerodynamics is also a source of noise.
“These tests will help us understand how to reduce noise and air resistance and develop designs that are better from the user’s perspective.
“Our upcoming projects include testing new types of wings for passenger aircraft, new fuselages, helicopter rotors and wind turbine blades.”
The Institute’s Director also announced projects connected with the Space Research Programme being conducted within the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
The aerodynamic tunnels at the Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation have already been used to test the Bursztyn rocket, one of the programme’s main pillars alongside the SPARK nanosatellite, which is scheduled to enter orbit in the second half of 2027.
“The T-3 wind tunnel has a five-metre-diameter test section in which we can place various objects — either objects that fly or objects around which air flows,” Szczepański explained.
“These can include aircraft, helicopters, rockets, missiles, arrows and cars.
“They may also include individual buildings, entire housing developments or sections of wind turbine blades. These are among the most common types of structures used in optimisation tests.
“It can even be used by a ski jumper seeking to optimise their body position in order to achieve the longest possible jump.”
“This is probably the only centre of its kind in this part of Europe where aviation companies can test their products in so many different configurations and according to the product specifications that are relevant to them,” Cichocki said.
The first research campaign will involve testing an aeroelastic wing as part of the EU-funded EXAELIA project — Experimental Aircraft for European Leadership in Aviation.
The project will also use the Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation’s new research equipment, including deformation measurement systems and a three-dimensional particle image velocimetry system.
“The Institute forms part of the design-knowledge supply chain used to develop new aircraft, helicopters, rockets and other products for the aviation and space industries,” the Director of the Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation said.
“Our new measurement facility enables us to carry out this stage of development to a much higher standard and provide designers with far better and more accurate information, as well as guidance on what should and should not be done.
“Everything we do at the Institute of Aviation is dual-use. All research conducted for civil aviation has a direct application in military aviation.
“The same applies to space technologies developed for civilian or military purposes.”
