Poland has signed a $3.8 billion agreement to upgrade its fleet of F-16 fighter jets, with work to be carried out at the Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 military aviation plant in Bydgoszcz. The program will be financed through a U.S. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) guarantee.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the modernisation was needed to address evolving threats and to improve interoperability with other platforms such as the F-35, Abrams tanks and Apache helicopters. The upgrades will bring Poland’s F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft closer in capability to the newer F-16V Block 72 standard.
The package includes the integration of the AN/APG-83 SABR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, aimed at improving target detection, including against low-observable threats like cruise missiles. The jets will also receive new mission computers, upgraded data links, and advanced electronic warfare systems to enhance survivability.
Additional enhancements involve the integration of new weapons, such as AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles, and the replacement or modification of other key combat systems. Operational support measures, including spare parts and storage facilities, are also part of the contract, with the goal of extending the service life of the aircraft beyond 2040.
Poland originally purchased 48 F-16C/D aircraft in 2003, with deliveries completed by 2008. The original acquisition, valued between $3.25 and $3.5 billion, was financed through credit, with most repayments completed by 2015.