NATO member Poland has put on hold plans to buy 32 Black Hawk helicopters.
It suggested that Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows they're not the right weapon to focus on.
It's not abandoned helicopters, but they have proven vulnerable in Ukraine.
NATO member Poland has postponed its purchase of 32 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, with military officials there suggesting the way Russia is fighting in Ukraine shows they're not the right equipment for it to focus on.
General Wieslaw Kukula, the Polish armed forces chief of staff, said at a Friday press conference that "we have decided to change the priorities of the helicopter programs" in order to "better adapt to the challenges of future warfare," Reuters reported.
Poland's deputy defense minister, Pawel Bejda, said on X that his country's military, pilots, and experts were analyzing the geopolitical situation, as well as "the war in Ukraine" and what Russia is buying and equipping its military with.
Poland shares a land border with Ukraine.
Grzegorz Polak, a spokesman for Poland's Armament Agency, which buys equipment for its military, told Reuters that its priorities needed "some correction" and that it might be necessary to buy other equipment instead of the helicopters, "such as drones, or tanks, or some kind of communication."
He also told Polish outlet Defence24 that the armed force's priorities have changed amid evolving threats.
Poland, like other European countries, has warned that Russia could attack elsewhere on the continent.
Its prime minister, Donald Tusk, warned in March that Russia's big military investments suggest it's readying for a conflict with someone bigger than Ukraine in the next three to four years.
Poland is already the highest spender on defense in NATO, as a proportion of its GDP, and has been a major ally of Ukraine throughout the invasion.
Helicopters over Ukraine
Helicopters have played a role in Russia's invasion, with both sides using them to counter drones, offer air support, and launch attacks.
It suggested that Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows they're not the right weapon to focus on.
It's not abandoned helicopters, but they have proven vulnerable in Ukraine.
NATO member Poland has postponed its purchase of 32 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, with military officials there suggesting the way Russia is fighting in Ukraine shows they're not the right equipment for it to focus on.
General Wieslaw Kukula, the Polish armed forces chief of staff, said at a Friday press conference that "we have decided to change the priorities of the helicopter programs" in order to "better adapt to the challenges of future warfare," Reuters reported.
Poland's deputy defense minister, Pawel Bejda, said on X that his country's military, pilots, and experts were analyzing the geopolitical situation, as well as "the war in Ukraine" and what Russia is buying and equipping its military with.
Poland shares a land border with Ukraine.
Grzegorz Polak, a spokesman for Poland's Armament Agency, which buys equipment for its military, told Reuters that its priorities needed "some correction" and that it might be necessary to buy other equipment instead of the helicopters, "such as drones, or tanks, or some kind of communication."
He also told Polish outlet Defence24 that the armed force's priorities have changed amid evolving threats.
Poland, like other European countries, has warned that Russia could attack elsewhere on the continent.
Its prime minister, Donald Tusk, warned in March that Russia's big military investments suggest it's readying for a conflict with someone bigger than Ukraine in the next three to four years.
Poland is already the highest spender on defense in NATO, as a proportion of its GDP, and has been a major ally of Ukraine throughout the invasion.
Helicopters over Ukraine
Helicopters have played a role in Russia's invasion, with both sides using them to counter drones, offer air support, and launch attacks.
5 months ago
