Poland has signed a contract with the US to upgrade its fleet of 48 F-16 C/D Block 52 multi-role combat aircraft to the F-16V Block 72 configuration.
The $3.8-billion deal covers the enhancement of the aircraft, radar, communications, reconnaissance, ground infrastructure, simulators, and trainers, starting in 2028 and running through 2038.
Work will be performed on Polish territory, particularly at the state-run Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze (Military Aviation Works) No. 2 in the northern city of Bydgoszcz, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin.
Two aircraft will undergo control flights and testing in the US, while the rest will be in Poland.
The F-16V deal is also part of Warsaw’s broader defense spending efforts aimed at modernizing its entire armed forces amid threats from Russia.
Polish F-16 Fleet
The Polish Air Force received its F-16 C/D Block 52 fleet from 2006 to 2008 as a replacement for its aging Soviet-era combat aircraft and to align with NATO standards.
While the current aircraft’s capabilities are sufficient, Polish Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz identified a need to improve their multi-domain operational capabilities and integration with the F-35 fighter jets, Abrams main battle tanks, and Apache helicopters to be effective against future threats.
This month’s $3.8-billion deal is likely part of Poland’s F-16 Viper Midlife Upgrade worth $7.3 billion, which the US State Department approved in October 2024.
Warsaw’s request for purchase included munitions such as the AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Special Air Training Missiles, in addition to AN/APG-83 AESA scalable agile beam radars, navigation and targeting systems, electronic warfare suites, and related systems.
