Polish Naval Air Arm AW101 Delivered

Poland received the first of four AW101 helicopters ordered for the Polish Naval Air Arm, handed over to the 44th Naval Aviation Base at Darlowo. The aircraft is configured for anti-submarine warfare and combat search-and-rescue and was delivered after training and acceptance activity in the United Kingdom and Poland. The AW101 replaces Soviet-era Mi-14 amphibians in the Baltic patrol role, giving the navy a modern dipping sonar, a torpedo capability and the endurance to work far from the coast, and three more aircraft were to follow under the same contract.