Poland signs AH-64 Apache deal and looking back on a satellite catching Boxcar
96 Apache new Apache Helos heading to Poland and remembering a C-119's space age catch
“I suppose the one quality in an astronaut more powerful than any other is curiosity. They have to get someplace nobody’s been”
-John Glenn
Mission Briefing
**Poland's Major Step Forward in Military Modernization**
This week, Poland marked a significant milestone in its defense strategy by officially signing the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the purchase of 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Polish Land Forces. The deal, valued at $10 billion, is a key part of the “Kruk” Attack Helicopter program and represents Poland’s ongoing commitment to modernizing its military capabilities.
The signing ceremony took place on August 13 at the 56th Air Base in Latkowo, Poland, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz leading the event alongside defense officials and industry representatives. This agreement signals the replacement of Poland’s aging Soviet-era Mi-24 Hind helicopters with the cutting-edge AH-64E Apaches, widely regarded as the most advanced attack helicopters in the world.
“This is a breakthrough moment in transforming our military capabilities with the most modern and best AH-64E Apache helicopters,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz. “This acquisition significantly enhances the effectiveness and integration of our armed forces, particularly in conjunction with armored forces, reconnaissance, and drones.”
The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement between the governments of Poland and the US includes not only the delivery of the helicopters but also a comprehensive logistics package, training for pilots and technical personnel, and a supply of ammunition and spare parts. The 96 AH-64E Apaches are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2032 and will be based at key air bases across Poland.
As an interim measure, Poland will receive eight older AH-64Ds on lease from the US Army later this year, with Polish pilots and engineers already undergoing extensive training on the Apache system in the United States.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also emphasized the ongoing commitment to defense modernization, announcing that the development of unmanned forces, particularly reconnaissance drones, will be a priority in the coming months. These drones will work in conjunction with the newly acquired Apache helicopters to enhance Poland’s military capabilities further.
In addition to the LOA, Poland also signed two significant offset agreements with Boeing and General Electric. These agreements, valued at over $238 million, will provide substantial benefits to Polish industry, including training and maintenance capabilities for the AH-64E Apaches and the engines powering various helicopters in the Polish Armed Forces. These partnerships are set to ensure that Poland has the expertise and resources needed to support its growing fleet and maintain its defense capabilities for years to come.
This week in aviation history
19 August 1960: The Discoverer XIV, a Keyhole KH-1 reconnaissance satellite from Project CORONA, completed a groundbreaking mission. Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard a Thor-Agena A rocket, Discoverer XIV entered an elliptical orbit and began its mission to capture crucial intelligence.
The satellite completed 17 orbits, including seven over "denied territory," before its Satellite Reentry Vehicle (SRV) was ejected from the Agena A and de-orbited. On that same day, a Fairchild C-119J Flying Boxcar, call sign Pelican 9, from Hickham Air Force Base, was dispatched to recover the SRV as it parachuted back to Earth. The crew successfully snagged the parachute and satellite on their third attempt, marking the first time in history that film from a satellite was recovered.
This mission, officially designated Mission 9009, managed to photograph 1.5 million square miles of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, despite challenges with cloud cover. The imagery captured provided critical intelligence, including details on missile test ranges, surface-to-air missile sites, nuclear research facilities, and new airfields—vital information during the height of the Cold War.
Project CORONA, managed by the CIA and the United States Air Force, was publicly presented as an Earth sciences research initiative but was, in fact, a top-secret reconnaissance program aimed at gathering intelligence on the Soviet Union and China. Lockheed Missiles and Space Company was the prime contractor, with Fairchild Camera and Instrument Co. providing the KH-1 camera system, and General Electric responsible for the Satellite Reentry Vehicle.
The Discoverer XIV mission demonstrated the power of space-based reconnaissance, covering areas unreachable by even the most advanced aircraft like the Lockheed U-2. This mission laid the groundwork for future satellite intelligence operations, significantly contributing to national security during a tense era.
In case you missed it
More on Poland’s Apache deal here:
Photo Outlet
Blue Angel Number 7 taking off at the start of the routine:
Post Flight Debrief
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-Tog