Poland Signs Boeing and GE Aerospace Offset Deals for Apache Training Centre at WAT

Offset agreements signed in Warsaw

On Wednesday, 30 September 2026, executive offset agreements were signed at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw between Polish authorities and American defence contractors Boeing and GE Aerospace. The documents were signed on behalf of the university by its rector-commandant, General Professor Przemysław Wachulak, alongside corporate representatives from Boeing, which manufactures the AH-64E Apache, and GE Aerospace, which builds the turboshaft engines powering the platform. The agreement establishes dedicated technical training programmes at the university, covering the complete servicing and maintenance workflow for both the airframes and their propulsion units. Under the terms of the deal, the university will create the Apache Helicopter Training Centre and expand its Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory to support domestic engineering competencies. Polish defence officials confirmed that this arrangement directly complements two previously signed offset agreements, including a servicing capability agreement established at the Military Aviation Works in Dęblin.

Technician training and delivery schedule

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that the agreements ensure technicians tasked with maintaining the Polish fleet will complete their instruction inside Poland. American partners will deliver a dedicated training helicopter and a standalone aircraft engine directly to university students in 2027 to facilitate practical coursework. Kosiniak-Kamysz addressed Boeing and GE Aerospace leadership directly during the signing event, urging both contractors to adhere strictly to the production schedule against the backdrop of hybrid security threats from the east. Delivery of the 96 ordered helicopters is scheduled to take place between 2028 and 2032.

“This is simply a key issue, we do not have time.”

The Kruk modernisation program

The training initiative forms part of Poland's broader Kruk procurement program, which aims to replace the military's ageing fleet of post-Soviet Mi-24 helicopters. Warsaw concluded the primary procurement contract for 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters in August 2024, an acquisition valued at approximately $12 billion (over 46 billion PLN). The comprehensive package includes airframes, weapon inventories such as laser-guided Hellfire anti-tank missiles, unguided rockets, and 30mm automatic cannon ammunition, as well as spare parts, logistics facilities, and comprehensive instruction for flight crews and ground personnel. Polish defence planners selected the American platform following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which demonstrated the operational necessity of rapid-response anti-armour capabilities and forward battlefield reconnaissance.

Operational integration and strategic cooperation

The AH-64E variant purchased by Poland incorporates modern fire-control radar systems, advanced optical sensors, and dedicated command links designed to coordinate operations with unmanned aerial vehicles. Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed to operational observations from the Middle East showing that the Apache serves as an effective platform for intercepting hostile aerial drones while providing close air support for ground formations. Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the contracts reflect broader bilateral security agreements with the United States government as Poland builds the largest ground army in Europe. During the signing ceremony, the defence minister also noted that United States Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose received Pentagon briefings on Wednesday morning concerning implementation of the National Defense Strategy, which features plans for a permanent United States military base in Poland.