GE Aerospace has secured an order for 210 T700 engines to power 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces. This order follows a cooperation agreement signed in August 2024 between GE Aerospace and the Polish Ministry of National Defence. Under the agreement, Military Aviation Works in Deblin (WZL-1) will provide licensed maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) support for T700 engines on the Apache, as well as for Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk and CT7 engines on Leonardo AW149 and AW101 helicopters within the Polish Armed Forces fleet.
The Military University of Technology in Warsaw (WAT) will oversee training, including engine-specific instruction for Polish technicians, military personnel, and WZL-1 employees, equipping them to support the helicopter fleet and train future engineers for the Polish Armed Forces.
This partnership between GE Aerospace, WZL-1, and WAT will create high-value jobs in Poland and enhance MRO capabilities, technical training and support for the defence sector. The agreement will ensure the Polish Ministry of National Defence has in-country engine depot and training capabilities, securing the supply chain for all platforms powered by the T700/CT7 engine series. It also lays the groundwork for future collaborations on other GE Aerospace combat engines, such as the F110, F414, and F404.
The T700/CT7 family of engines powers 15 types of military and civilian helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, with over 130 customers across more than 50 countries. With over 25,000 engines delivered, the T700/CT7 has accumulated more than 130 million flight hours, proving its reliability in extreme conditions such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Europe alone, over 1,300 engines have been delivered or are on order for 20 military and paramilitary customers.
The engines will be built and delivered under a contract with the U.S. Army through the Foreign Military Sales programme. In June 2024, GE Aerospace was awarded an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to produce up to 950 T700 engines in support of U.S. military and allied programmes through 2029.
“This T700 engine is the engine of choice for medium-sized helicopters with its exceptional performance, reliability, and durability,” said Amy Gowder, President and CEO of Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. “This order strengthens our relationship with Poland and expands the Polish Armed Forces’ GE Aerospace-powered fleet, which includes F404-powered FA-50 fighter jets, T700-powered Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawks, and CT7-powered Leonardo AW149 and AW101 helicopters.”
