PZL

PZL, short for Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze (State Aviation Works), was a Polish state-owned aerospace manufacturer and holding group created in the early 20th century to coordinate the design, development, and production of aircraft for military and civilian use. During the interwar period and after World War II, it operated as a centralized umbrella for multiple factories, design offices, and projects across Poland.

Historically, PZL encompassed several key facilities and brands, most notably PZL Mielec and PZL Świdnik. PZL Mielec in southeastern Poland produced a range of fixed-wing aircraft, including agricultural and utility designs such as the M-18 Dromader and later more modern types. PZL Świdnik, based near Lublin, specialized in rotorcraft and became a major helicopter producer, producing licensed designs like the Mi-2 and developing several civil and military rotorcraft programs. The group also developed and produced notable aircraft for Poland’s air forces, including prewar fighters such as the PZL P.11 and other trainer and utility aircraft, as well as postwar designs like the PZL-130 Orlik trainer.

Beginning in the 1990s, as Poland transitioned to a market economy, the PZL conglomerate was dissolved and its assets were reorganized as independent companies. The principal units were privatized and integrated into international aerospace groups: PZL Mielec was acquired by Sikorsky Aircraft (a U.S. company later part of United Technologies and, more recently, RTX), and PZL Świdnik was acquired by AgustaWestland (now part of Leonardo). Today, the PZL name no longer denotes a single operating company, but its former plants continue to contribute to Poland’s aerospace sector under different owners.