Poland signs off on $3.8 billion F-16 fighter jet upgrade

WARSAW — The Polish Ministry of National Defence has finalized a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) with the US government to upgrade its fleet of 48 F-16 Block 52+ multi-role combat aircraft to the advanced F-16 Viper configuration, also known as the F-16V.

Lockheed Martin will serve as the primary contractor for the modernization effort, valued at approximately $3.8 billion, and will partner with local supplier Military Aviation Works No. 2 in Bydgoszcz to perform the upgrade work in-country.

During a ceremony Wednesday at the manufacturing site, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz signed the upgrade agreement, according to a Polish Ministry of National Defense statement. Other attendees of the signing included: Poland’s Defense Secretary of State Paweł Bejda, Inspector of the Polish Air Force Maj. Gen. Ireneusz Nowak, representatives of the US Embassy in Poland, Lockheed Martin officials and delegates of local authorities.

“Polish pilots love this [F-16] aircraft and are proud of it — we already have generations of trained crews,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz. “The current capabilities of the F-16 C/D version are good, but after 20 years, they are insufficient to address the threats. We need to improve reconnaissance capabilities, communications, integration with the F-35, Abrams, and Apache, as well as the ability to operate in any domain.”

He added, “The modernization will enable the transition from the C/D Block 52 to the F-16V Block 72 — the same one purchased by, among others, Slovaks as their most modern plane.”

The new F-16V modernization package includes the integration of APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam radar, high-resolution Center Pedestal Display systems, upgraded mission computers, and a new display generator. It also includes advanced helmet-mounted devices, electronic warfare enhancements, the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod with Digital Video Interface, as well as communications and data transmission equipment. Structural modifications will extend the service life of the aircraft to 12,000 flight hours.

The agreement also includes the delivery of simulators for the modernized aircraft, the construction of storage facilities for sensitive parts for the modernized aircraft, the provision of spare parts, and technical support for American personnel.

The modernization of Polish F-16 C/D Block 52+ work will be carried out entirely in Poland. Flight tests and checks of two aircraft will be conducted in the United States, while the remaining aircraft will be inspected in Poland. Following all work and testing, the aircraft will be gradually returned to service with the Polish Air Force between 2030 and 2038. The modernization is intended to increase operational potential and the scope of cooperation with NATO forces.

“We stand with our allies today. Poland and the US are strong allies, and Poland is a model NATO member. Thanks to the US Foreign Military Financing program, we have secured loan guarantees on the best terms — a total of $11 billion. … Our goal is for Poland to be among the top three NATO countries in terms of operational capabilities. This modernization is a step in that direction,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz.

A total of 32 Polish Air Force F-16C and 16 F-16D Block 52+ Jastrząb (Hawk) fighter jets are split between three squadrons: 3rd and 6th, based at 31st Tactical Air Base in Poznań-Krzesiny, and 10th, based at 32nd TAB in Łask. The first four Polish F-16s were handed over to Poland in 2006, with the last three delivered in 2008. They have an 8,000-hour airframe lifespan, allowing for 40 years of operation with an average annual flight time of 200 hours.