Warsaw – Poland has signed a $3.8 billion contract with the United States to upgrade its entire fleet of 48 F-16 C/D Block 52 fighters to the most advanced V Block 72 standard, the Ministry of National Defence announced on Wednesday (13).
The modernisation work will be carried out at Military Aviation Works No. 2 in Bydgoszcz, securing long-term jobs and strengthening the national defence industry.
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The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda. The package includes not only aircraft upgrades but also radar, communications, friend-or-foe identification systems, simulators, trainers, and ground infrastructure.
Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasised that the modernisation will increase interoperability with Poland’s newly acquired F-35 fighters, Abrams tanks, and Apache helicopters. He also noted that the Foreign Military Financing programme helped secure $11 billion in loan guarantees on favourable terms.
“After 20 years, the current capabilities of the F-16 C/D version are no longer sufficient to face modern threats. We need to improve reconnaissance, communications, and integration with other systems,” the minister stated, adding that the goal is to place Poland among the top three NATO members in operational capabilities.
The schedule foresees work starting in 2028, with completion expected by 2038.
Acquired in the early 2000s to replace Soviet-era aircraft, the Polish F-16s have been involved in national air defence, NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, and various allied operations abroad.
Source and images: www.gov.pl. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
