Poland’s PZL Mielec Advances Security, Industry, and Innovation

21st Century Security^® is about more than just advanced technology. It’s about global partnerships that strengthen international alliances, and a resilient industrial base that creates new opportunities for innovation and economic growth.

Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze (PZL) Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company, is consistently one of Poland's biggest defense exporters. With a robust network of suppliers and a state-of-the-art manufacturing center, it’s also a shining example of where technology, partnerships, and industry intersect to advance 21st Century Security in Europe and beyond.

PZL’s 1,650 employees build the S-70 Black Hawk helicopter and the M28 utility aircraft, and provide key components for the F-16 fighter jet at a state-of-the-art facility that includes a fully functional airframe production area, a final assembly production line, and completion and flight operations centers.

With more than 350 sites in 50 countries, Lockheed Martin has a significant presence around the world. PZL is the corporation’s largest manufacturing facility outside of the U.S.

“PZL not only strengthens the security of Poland and our allies through aircraft like the Black Hawk and F-16, we’re also fostering a robust supply chain,” said Janusz Zakręcki, PZL’s president and general director. “Our supply chain comprises more than 1,500 companies – 1,150 in Poland – that provide a wide range of materials, services, and components. That supports European industry, highly-skilled jobs, and economic opportunities.”

PZL also provides a wide-range of aerospace services, including aircraft design, test and research, composite fabrication, plastic forming, special processes, production tooling, and aircraft painting in accordance with global VIP painting quality standards.

PZL’s strong background in aircraft manufacturing and commitment to continuous improvement makes it an important element of Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security initiative. One of 21st Century Security’s top goals is to create a more diverse and trusted defense supply chain. PZL is of particular economic and defense importance, and contributes to the high export value of Polish defense technologies.

“PZL serves as an excellent example of leveraging the industrial power of an allied nation to build a stronger, more resilient supply chain,” said Michael Williamson, president of Lockheed Martin International. “With international partners like PZL, the aerospace and defense industry can build a robust supply chain that withstands unexpected interruptions and is ready to scale to meet the needs of tomorrow’s global security environment.”

“For anybody who has a boat or is going to be on the water, having your safety equipment can really make or break a case,” says Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist, Nicole Groll. “The helicopter can fly lower which helps us spot things better, however having some type of locater device with you on your boat makes things 10 times easier and 10 times safer for our crews.”

PZL and Lockheed Martin have invested more than $170 million in PZL modernization since 2007. Now, as part of Lockheed Martin’s 1LMX digital transformation program, PZL is continuing to advance its modernization with a focus on aircraft production and additive and composite manufacturing. Recent innovative highlights include:

• Refurbishing an existing building into a dedicated 14,000 square meter, modern production area to build the rear and center fuselages, the cockpit structure and side panels, and the forward equipment bay for the F-16.
  
  
• Employing several industry 3D printers solutions with fused filament fabrication technology to produce different parts for the M28 and equipment for all its programs. The company’s modern composites manufacturing center makes parts for PZL’s Black Hawk program. In addition, it is also used for prototype development, production and implementation of composite elements and assemblies, using the latest materials, such as carbon fiber-reinforced polymers and thermoplastics.
  
  
• Opening a 2,200 square meter, eco-friendly aircraft paint facility in 2021 – one of the best of its kind in Poland.
  
  
• Using its excellence in friction stir welding to work with the European Space Agency to research, develop and test this technology to replace titanium tanks with non-welded aluminum alloys for satellites and space craft.

To spur innovation, PZL partners with 10 technology universities, academies, and research institutes associated with the Polish Lukasiewicz scientific network. Among them are Warsaw’s Institute of Aviation and Kraków’s AGH University of Science and Technology, and the aviation-focused Warsaw University of Technology and the Rzeszow University of Technology.