GE Aerospace and Poland’s Military Aviation Works No. 1 (WZL-1) have signed a final agreement enabling WZL-1 to provide licensed maintenance, repair and overhaul support for T700/CT7 engines powering the Polish Armed Forces’ Boeing Apache, Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk and Leonardo AW149 and AW101 helicopters, fulfilling part of the localisation commitment attached to Poland’s 2024 Apache helicopter order. “WZL-1 has a strong reputation for engine maintenance in Poland, and the agreement that we signed today will ensure the Polish Armed Forces’ new fleet of Boeing Apache helicopters along with all the T700- and CT7-powered helicopters in service will be maintained and supported to the high standards that only licensed MRO providers can deliver,” said Shawn Warren, GE Aerospace’s vice president for defence and systems. Jacek Goszczyński, WZL-1’s chief executive, called it “a significant milestone in the development of Poland’s sovereign MRO capabilities for T700 and CT7 engines,” adding that it would support the long-term readiness of the Apache fleet and other platforms operated by the Polish Armed Forces.

A GROWING HUB FOR T700/CT7 SUPPORT

The T700/CT7 engine family powers 15 types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for more than 130 customers in over 50 countries, with more than 25,000 engines delivered and over 130 million total flight hours logged; in Europe alone, more than 1,300 engines have been delivered or are on order for 20 military and commercial customers. Adam Leszkiewicz, president of the Polish Armaments Group’s management board, said the Dęblin facility, with its T700/CT7 expertise and the parallel AGT1500 tank-engine project, was becoming the leading centre in the region for maintaining American military propulsion systems. GE Aerospace has operated in Poland for more than 30 years and now employs over 2,300 people across five locations in the country.