Company Will Play Role In Development Of International Black Hawk

On Friday, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp completed its acquisition of aircraft maker PZL Mielec from the Polish government.

As ANN reported, following the previously announced acquisition agreement signed in December 2006, Sikorsky acquired a 100 percent stake in the company, which is based in the city of Mielec. The company currently has approximately 1,500 employees.

Poland's largest fixed-wing aircraft manufacturer, PZL Mielec was previously wholly owned by the Industrial Development Agency (known by the Polish acronym ARP), a government holding company under the Ministry of Treasury.

"This is a major step toward establishing the foundation for our European operations," said Jeffrey Pino, Sikorsky's president. "Mielec will be a key component of Sikorsky's long-range global strategy to meet worldwide demand for its products and services. This acquisition draws upon Poland's great aerospace heritage and expertise and unites two pioneering aerospace companies into an even stronger world-class aircraft manufacturer and service provider."

With the closing of the acquisition, PZL's 1.2 million square foot facility will undergo modernization to support International Black Hawk helicopter production while continuing the current capability for aircraft design, manufacture, flight test and delivery. Modifications are slated to begin in April 2007.

In 2006, Sikorsky announced plans to develop an International Black Hawk helicopter variant for global customers that would be manufactured using a global supply chain.

FMI: www.sikorsky.com, www.pzlmielec.pl/ang/index1.php