The ceremony at a military airport in the Polish capital came after the government in January signed a multi-million deal to buy a first batch of four Black Hawk helicopters for the country’s armed forces.
Officials said at the time that the contract with PZL Mielec, a Poland-based aviation producer owned by US defence giant Lockheed Martin, marked an important day for the Polish armed forces.
On Friday, President Andrzej Duda told those at the ceremony in Warsaw that Polish soldiers were familiar with Black Hawks because they often used such helicopters while carrying out tasks and exercising “in various places around the world,” together with allied NATO armies, especially the US Army.
He added that that the helicopters would become a key piece of equipment for his country’s special forces.
Duda also voiced hope that the delivery of the first batch of four Black Hawks marked the beginning of efforts to modernise Poland’s fleet of military helicopters.
Poland also plans to buy naval and attack helicopters for its army to replace worn-out post-Soviet Mi-24 machines.
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Source: IAR, PAP