Inside Poland’s Black Hawk Factory: NATO’s Aerospace Powerhouse

Inside PZL Mielec: Poland’s aerospace powerhouse From the S-70i Black Hawk helicopter to components for the F-16 fighter jet, this Europe Pulse video goes inside one of Poland’s most important defence aviation facilities. The footage shows how precision engineering, skilled workers and international cooperation support military readiness across NATO. What this video shows The video takes viewers inside PZL Mielec, one of Poland’s largest aircraft and helicopter manufacturers and the largest Lockheed Martin production facility outside the United States. The factory produces the S-70i Black Hawk, the M28 aircraft, and structures linked to the F-16 and UH-60M Black Hawk programmes. Footage shows workers adjusting bolts on Black Hawk blades, working on helicopter structures, checking F-16 chassis components, and preparing aircraft on the production line. The video also includes flight-test footage of an S-70i Black Hawk and interviews with Witold Śpiewak, Technical Section Manager for the F-16 programme, and Janusz Zakręcki, President of PZL Mielec. Why it matters The source presents PZL Mielec as part of a wider NATO defence-industrial effort, as Allies increase defence investment and expand production capacity. Zakręcki says the company supports customers in Europe and the United States, works with Polish, European Union and US regulations, and cooperates with partners including Romania, the Polish Air Force and the US defence sector. The video also highlights the importance of local supply chains and skilled labour. PZL Mielec says it is working to identify more European Union suppliers, cooperate with universities, and strengthen the wider Aviation Valley cluster in south-eastern Poland. Key facts PZL Mielec is described as the largest defence aviation company in Poland. It is the largest Lockheed Martin manufacturing facility outside the United States. The company has operated since 1938, giving it almost 90 years of aviation history. PZL Mielec produces the S-70i Black Hawk and the M28 aircraft. The facility also produces structures for the UH-60M Black Hawk and components linked to the F-16 programme. Janusz Zakręcki says the company currently employs about 2,000 people. At its peak, the site employed almost 20,000 people. Zakręcki says PZL Mielec has delivered more than 2,600 different products to the Polish Air Force and other countries. Voices in the video Witold Śpiewak: “Every thousandth or hundredth of an inch matters here.” Witold Śpiewak: “There is no room for randomness; everything must be perfect and highly precise.” Janusz Zakręcki: “PZL Mielec is the largest defence aviation company in Poland.” Janusz Zakręcki: “We are very proud to be a part of that security ecosystem in Poland and in Europe.” Janusz Zakręcki: “There is no problem for us to even double our production.”