Poland has canceled its plans to purchase 32 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces, citing a shift in defense spending priorities.
The Polish Armament Group (PGZ) chose to terminate the procurement process in response to the fluidity of its needs.
“In the face of a dynamically changing geopolitical situation and evolving threats, it is natural to optimize and adapt purchasing priorities to the current needs of the Armed Forces,” PGZ Spokesperson Colonel Grzegorz Polak said.
Former Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak opposed the decision and called the cancellation a “disgrace,” adding that it will delay modernization of the country’s helicopter fleet.
Kompromitacja. @MON_GOV_PL unieważnił przetarg na 32 śmigłowce Black-Hawk rozpoczęty jeszcze w czasach naszych rządów! Wielokrotnie pisałem o tym, że po wyborach proces modernizacji wyhamuje jeszcze bardziej niż dotychczas.
Jakie ryzyka niesie ta decyzja?
❌Opóźnienie w… pic.twitter.com/yk3cFptPDC
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) June 6, 2025
Poland began negotiations for the Black Hawks in 2023. The units were slated to interoperate with the air force’s AgustaWestland AW149 and Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters.
The country’s recent defense deals include steps to bolster its air defense while tensions continue in Ukraine, one of its bordering countries.
Growing Defense
Despite the pushback, Poland is still looking to spend around five percent of its GDP for military expenditures in 2025, an increase over 2024’s 4.7 percent.
It is currently the highest defense spender among NATO member states
Aside from air platform upgrades, Warsaw is also currently focusing on updates to its space capabilities.
Last year, the country signed a $134-million deal to acquire a satellite earth observation system in a bid to strengthen its “national technological sovereignty.”
