The Polish Ministry of National Defence has cancelled a contract concluded in 2010 with the Israeli company Aeronautics Defense Systems for the supply of Aerostar medium-range unmanned aircraft. The company has once again failed to meet deadlines, in spite of their postponement for two years.
Aeronautics was to begin providing ground imagery in Afghanistan, but failed to comply with the agreement. Therefore, on September 13 Undersecretary of State for Arms and Modernisation Waldemar Skrzypczak ordered the launch of procedures for breach of contract. A formal letter was sent on Friday, September 28.
Further delaying the Ministry of National Defence’s decision would be detrimental to military operations and to the Treasury. The Ministry of National Defence will apply for reimbursement of money paid to date to Aeronautics, and will enforce the payment of penalties.
BACKGROUND
The supplier of medium-range unmanned aircraft was selected by the Defence Ministry in February 2010 under the so-called urgent operational requirement procedure.
Proceedings resulted in the selection of the winning system manufactured by Aerostar Aeronautics. In addition, two other Israeli companies competed for the tender: Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit.
The contract value was 88 million zloty (US$ 28M). Aeronautics Company was to provide two systems, each comprising four aircraft and two ground control stations. The system, however, was never adopted by the Polish army because it did not meet all the requirements.
A temporary solution was negotiated by the department at the beginning of last year, according to which the manufacturer would provide its unmanned aircraft in Afghanistan as a leased service. A set of loaned aircraft was to be provided to Polish troops for one year, comprising four aircraft, transmission systems, control and support services.
Currently, ground reconnaissance imagery from unmanned aircraft is provided to Polish troops in Afghanistan by the Americans.
(Issued in Polish only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)
Source: Defence Professionals