September 6, 2007: Polish firm PZL is offering a combat version of its W3 transport helicopter. The W-3PL has a radar, HUD (head up display), anti-missile system (detectors and flare dispensers) and is armed with a 12.7mm machine-gun turret under the nose, There are winglets for carrying rockets and missiles. The six ton W3 was originally developed in Poland in the 1970s and was sold to other East European nations, as a competitor to the Russian Mi-8. When the Cold War ended, the W-3 was upgraded and certified to operate in Western countries. The W3PL is considered a "battle support" helicopter, not a gunship. It has an armored floor, but is otherwise not as robust as choppers specifically built as gunships.