Milestone

– present we have a 3rd army in NATO in terms of military numbers. But we want to be on the podium for operational capabilities. That's what we're inactive short of, but we'll get there. Today, here in WZL no. 2 in Bydgoszcz, I want to promise – the word of honor, Poland will be the European leader – said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

- F-16s are replaceable. We request them very much to defend the Polish sky, including the threats that flow from the East. You read how you are On-call pair to fly – that's F-16. Sometimes MiG-29, due to the fact that there are inactive any of them, but they will be replaced soon," said Deputy Minister of Defence Paweł Bejda, and stressed that most of the 3.8 billion dollars spent on modernization of the F-16 fleet will be in Bydgoszcz plants. – This is very good news not only for the voivodship, but for the full of Poland. Most F-16 components are already produced here. This affects the safety of the Polish state – he emphasized the politician.

– We are honored to support the modernization of the Polish air defence through the programme of modernization of F-16 Viper aircraft, providing advanced capabilities in the field of air force and strengthening the east flank of NATO with a proven, interoperable fighter platform," said Nick Smythe, Vice president for the improvement of operational support and maintenance programmes at Lockheed Martin.

Gen. div. pil. Ireneusz Nowak, the air force inspector spoke about the emotion and happiness that he could witness the signing of the contract for the modernization of the Polish F-16, which he himself as a pilot and teacher knows from the lining. – In my opinion, this is 1 of the milestones in the improvement of Polish military aviation. This plane is the basis of the defence capabilities of the Republic of Poland. For 3 years Polish pilots have been performing patrol, combat, intervention, demonstration flights in Ukraine in defence of the Polish sky – said the general and mentioned the biggest changes that the transition from variant C/D Block 52+ to V Block 72 will make. “We will have the ability to keep the technological advantage over the planes and weapons of the Russian Federation in the future. This version, although inactive threatening, begins to slow deviate from what is happening on the modern battlefield," said the Air Force Inspector.

Modernisation besides means expanding the safety of pilots by utilizing fresh catapult seats, anticollision system, cockpit architecture. – As military, we besides see the request to keep our service, service and modernization capabilities here in Poland. But we besides see that in the future the F-16 fleet in the region of Central and east Europe will be very active and large for many years. We very much want WZL No. 2 to service and service not only Polish aircraft, but besides the aircraft of the Alliance partners," said Gen. Nowak. – As Polish airmen we will support Military Aviation Plant, PGZ to make this task a success. I am convinced that this will be the case, and erstwhile the aircraft has been upgraded, it will proceed to be a tool in the hands of our pilots to guarantee the effectiveness of the Alliance, our common safety – it has been signed.

The F-16 is simply a multitasking fighter aircraft manufactured by American company Lockheed Martin. F-16C/D Block 52+ Fighting Falcon aircraft have been the main force of Polish combat aviation since the mid-first decade of the 21st century. Poland has 48 specified machines, including 36 single-seat F-16C and 12 two-seat F-16D. Polish ‘hawks’ they are stationed at 31 Tactical Aviation Base in Krzesiny and 32 BLT in Grace. The modernization agreement signed present assumes that all Polish F-16s will be upgraded to F16V version Block 72 Viper between 2030 and 2030.