With the delivery of the first two AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters, Leonardo and the Italian National Fire Corps (Vigili del Fuoco, part of the Ministry of the Interior) announced a major step forward in strengthening their collaboration delivering advanced, more effective emergency response services in Italy. 

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson bid farewell to Army aviators as they took off for Estonia, where they will be training alongside NATO forces working to reassure our allies and deter our adversaries. 
 

SMi reports: The Hungarian Air Force are set to discuss the recent developments in their H145M and H225M procurement at Helicopter Technology CEE this May. The 5th Annual Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe Conference is returning to Prague, Czech Republic on the 22nd-23rd May 2019. SMi Group are pleased to announce that GMRE have recently signed up as the latest sponsor.

The Offset Agreement, signed by Leonardo MW Ltd, provides for establishing critical in-country maintenance capabilities and precedes a contract for the supply of AW101 military helicopters

Reykjavik, Airbus Helicopters is supporting the Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) with the entry into service of two Airbus H225 heavy search and rescue (SAR) helicopters as the first step in a renewal of the agency’s helicopter fleet. 

SMi Reports: Senior leaders from the Czech Air Force and Armed Forces to discuss key updates on the procurement of modern multirole helicopters at Helicopter Technology CEE this May in Prague. SMi’s 4th Annual Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe conference will be returning to Prague, Czech Republic on the 22nd and 23rd May 2019.

SMi Group Reports: Senior military officials from the US Army Aviation Center and British Army are set to present at Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe in May. SMi's 5th Annual Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe conference is returning to Prague, Czech Republic on the 22nd-23rd May 2019 as Europe’s leading regional event focused on helicopter technology.

On 27 February 2019, the representatives of PGZ’s WSK „PZL-Kalisz” S.A. and Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów S.A. reached an understanding on the remaining key matters that are to lead to the conclusion of a preliminary agreement on the sale of Aircraft Engine Plant in Rzeszów. 
 

Wildcat and Apache helicopters will be deployed to Estonia this year, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced at a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels. 
 

SMi Reports: Czech Air Force set to give keynote host-nation presentations at the 4th annual Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe conference, taking place in Prague on 22nd-23rd May 2019. As Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States continue to be a key focus for defence equipment upgrades, the rotary fleet remains a key asset in both domestic and international military operations. Therefore, a focused conference is essential to ensure continued advancement of capability, equipment, and joint interoperability.

MIELEC, Poland --- The Polish Minister of Defence, Mariusz Błaszczak, has today confirmed an order for four Polish-built Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to provide an enhanced capability to Poland’s Special Operations Forces (SOF). Production of the aircraft will begin immediately with delivery of all four aircraft by the end of this year. 
 

BELGRADE --- Russia will supply seven Mi-35 and three Mi-17 helicopters to Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in his address to the nation following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Belgrade. 
 

ASTANA, Kazakhstan --- A contract was signed today in Astana to organize the large-scale assembly of Mi-8AMT / Mi-171 helicopters between NK Kazakhstan Engineering of the Ministry of Defense and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Aviation Repair Plant No. 405 and the Russian Helicopters company of Russian State Corporation Rostec. 
 

SMi’s Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe conference is set to make its return this year to Prague, Czech Republic on the 22nd and 23rd May 2019, for its 4th year running. The two-day event, which recently welcomed Gold Sponsor Leonardo to the 2019 sponsor line-up, will host an international gathering of senior military experts from Central and Eastern European countries, who will present their current national situation in terms of helicopter technology, and will have the chance to meet and cooperate with allied and potential third-party partners to help support their helicopter capabilities.