General Electric and UTC to battle out engine multitask plane contract

In the shadow of the huge tender to supply the army with a multitask plane, there is another which involves choosing a company to supply the planes with engines. Two American companies General Electric (GE) and United Technologies Company (UTC) are competing in this race. The advantage that GE has over its competitors is the fact that it builds the engines for both the American F-16 and the Gripen planes. If the government chooses the F-16, then GE and UTC could become engaged in a fierce competition to win the contract to supply the engines. This in turn could complicate the offset program for Polish industry. Deputy president of GE Bjorn Gidner, estimates that the value of equipping the planes with 48 engines will amount to around $300 million. According to the offset contract, the company which wins would be obliged to invest most of this sum in Polish industry. "We have invested $200 million in this country since 1992," declared Gidner. GE companies which are present in Poland reflect those that are present across the globe. "At present we are very active in civil sector and there is no problem to widen our portfolio," he added. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 4) M.M.