Poland signs Apache support deal with Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin has signed executive agreements with Poland’s Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 1 (WZL-1) in Lodz, part of the PGZ Group, to support key components of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

The agreements, valued at approximately 300 million zloty ($81 million), cover maintenance, repair, and testing of critical systems.

According to the agreement, the Lodz facility will be responsible for servicing and testing fire control radars and for maintenance, repair, and testing of optoelectronic systems used on the AH-64E Apache. The contract also includes delivery of test equipment, technical documentation, licensing, technical assistance, and personnel training.

These components are among the most critical subsystems of the Apache platform. The fire control radar enables target detection and tracking, while the optoelectronic targeting system provides precision engagement capability through sensors and guidance systems.

The contracts are part of a broader Apache acquisition program. In 2024, Poland signed a deal to procure 96 AH-64E helicopters valued at approximately 40 billion zloty ($10.8 billion), one of the largest defense purchases in the country’s history and exceeding the cost of individual fighter jet programs such as F-16 or F-35 acquisitions.

The first Apache helicopter produced for Poland is expected to arrive in the summer of 2028. The broader program also includes offset agreements worth about 1.2 billion zloty ($324 million), aimed at transferring technology and supporting domestic industry. Lockheed Martin’s role includes supplying key systems such as the airframe components, engines, and advanced targeting and radar systems associated with the Apache platform.

The Lodz facility will become one of the few locations in Europe capable of servicing these advanced systems. Currently, only the United Kingdom has comparable capabilities, and in that case they are operated directly by Boeing. The Polish site is expected to be the first outside the United States able to perform such work independently.

In practical terms, establishing this capability in Poland means that critical maintenance tasks for Apache helicopters can be conducted closer to operational units. This reduces turnaround times for repairs and upgrades while improving availability of aircraft during sustained operations.