New wings for the Army, but no one to service them

Krzysztof Krystowski, the president of Avio Polska, said that Polish companies only specialize in servicing vehicles currently used by the Polish army, all of them out of date and do not have the experience to repair newer machines produced by Western companies. Due to this, the planes will have to be serviced abroad, a situation that could prove extremely expensive. Slawomir Kulakowksi, the president of  the Polish Chamber of National Defense Manufacturers said it is high time to begin cooperation with foreign companies to build modern service centers in Poland. Kulakowski added that Lockheed Martin, supplier of the F-16s, was offered the opportunity to do this as an offset long time ago. Defense Minister Aleksander Szczyglo reportedly tried to convince Lockheed Martin to invest in a servicing center in the WZL-2 plant in Bydgoszcz. The president of the American company has not ruled out this possibility, but does not want to discuss specifics. According to Krystowski, in June they will sign a letter of intent with WZL-4  concerning a investment in its engine servicing center. (Puls Biznesu p.8) M.M.