Poland seeks stronger partnerships with Philippines, ROK
Reuters
Poland is seeking more defense partnerships with the Philippines after completing the delivery of Black Hawk helicopters to Manila in August 2026.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, who was in Manila for bilateral talks, said Poland is investing nearly $50 billion in its defense industry. He said the nation could sell reconnaissance and combat drones, radar equipment, anti-aircraft missiles, and armored personnel carriers to other nations. He noted that a Philippine military delegation recently visited Poland to review equipment for potential purchase.
Manila acquired 32 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters from Poland-based Sikorsky Aircraft subsidiary PZL Mielec in 2022 in a $510 million deal. The final seven helicopters were delivered in August 2026, Philippine officials said.
The S-70i can fast-rope troops, sling-load a 105 mm howitzer, and conduct firefighting, medical evacuation and search and rescue missions, according to Military Aviation News.
The delivery marked “a significant milestone in the development of the country’s rotary-wing capability,” Philippine Air Force Col. Ma Christina Basco said.
Polish Army officials, meanwhile, met with Republic of Korea (ROK) Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha to discuss expanding high-level exchanges and defense industry cooperation, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Kim also met with Gen. Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, and Lt. Gen. Marek Sokolowski, the Polish Army’s general commander, during a three-day trip to Poland in September.
Kim and Kukula agreed to establish Army-to-Army consultations and expand combined drills, the ROK Army said. They also discussed boosting defense industry cooperation, including in maintenance, repair and overhaul.
Poland is a major European buyer of ROK-made defense assets, including the K2 main battle tank, the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher.
