Poland Looks to Replace Its Orlik Training Aircraft: Super Tucano and PC-21 Under Consideration

Poland has begun the search for a successor to the PZL-130 Orlik training aircraft, which no longer fully meet pilot training requirements.

This was stated by Major General Ireneusz Nowak, the operational commander of the Polish Armed Forces, in an interview with Defence24.

The existing aircraft have certain limitations that make it difficult to use them for training pilots to fly modern combat aircraft.

Specifically, this concerns the training of pilots for fifth-generation aircraft, as well as F-16 fighters following modernization under the Mid-Life Update (MLU) program.

As part of their search for possible solutions, the Polish military conducted demonstration flights this year and evaluated the A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft from the Brazilian company Embraer and the PC-21 from the Swiss company Pilatus.

Despite being upgraded to the PZL-130 Orlik TC-II Advanced standard, these aircraft, according to the Polish military command, do not fully meet the pilot training requirements for modern combat platforms.

In particular, their capabilities may be sufficient for training pilots to fly the F-16 Block 52+ fighters currently in service with Poland, as well as, possibly, the FA-50 light combat aircraft.

Major General Novak reported that after reviewing the A-29 Super Tucano and the PC-21, the military has already drawn certain conclusions.

At the same time, he did not disclose details of the aircraft evaluation and did not specify which option might be selected.

The next step will involve taking measures to include the new training aircraft in the Plan for Technical Modernization of the Armed Forces of Poland.

This will allow the process to move from analyzing possible options to planning the corresponding re-equipment of the training aviation fleet.

PZL-130 Orlik in Poland

Poland currently operates 28 PZL-130 Orlik aircraft in the TC II Advanced configuration. They are used by the 4th Aviation School Wing, specifically at the 42nd Training Air Base in Radom.

These aircraft play a vital role in the training system for Polish military pilots.

After completing their training at the academy and flying ultralight aircraft, young pilots transition to the Orlik, where they continue to master the next stage of flight training.

After that, the pilots move on to advanced training on the M-346 Bielik jet trainer aircraft.

It is precisely this sequence of stages that allows pilots to be gradually prepared to fly more complex combat aircraft.

At the same time, the Polish command has not yet disclosed the final choice of a new aircraft or the timeline for its potential introduction.