Polish gov’t could cancel Airbus Helicopters deal: report
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
05.08.2016 13:30
Negotiations between the Polish government and Airbus Helicopters over the purchase of military choppers have reached an impasse and a deal could be cancelled, says the Nasz Dziennik daily.
Airbus's Eurocopter EC-725R2 Caracal. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
“Until recently, the Polish-French talks were fluent and friendly, the offset agreement was progressing well,” the daily said on Friday.
“But a few weeks ago, the French made new proposals, which […] were rejected by the Polish negotiators from the Development Ministry,” sources close to the matter told Nasz Dziennik.
The ministry is responsible for concluding the offset agreement and the purchase, the daily said.
Negotiations for the purchase of 50 Eurocopter EC725 helicopters (also known as Caracal) were started by the former Civic-Platform (PO) led government. The deal was said to be worth PLN 13.5 billion.
Nasz Dziennik’s sources said that both the Development and Defence ministries believed that the price was too high.
Just weeks after the Law and Justice (PiS) party won the October 2015 general election, a leading figure in Polish defence said that the government would likely cancel the tender agreement for military helicopters signed by the former Cabinet.
“All signs indicate that the tender for a multipurpose helicopter will be void and consequently repeated,” Michał Jach, head of the parliamentary Defence Committee told Polish Radio in November.
Poland signed a tender with French Airbus Helicopters to purchase 50 Eurocopter EC725 helicopters in April 2015.
Three firms were competing in the tender for military helicopters. Apart from Airbus rival offers were submitted by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Agusta Westland PZL Świdnik based in Poland. (rg)