Poland received its first F-16s in 2006, cementing its relationship with the US Air Force.
Eastern European nations are bolstering their defenses in light of Russia’s ongoing Ukraine invasion. From main battle tanks and airframes to air defense systems and lethal drones, NATO member states are procuring the military equipment required to ensure their security. Poland specifically has beefed up its defense spending in recent years, planning to reach 4.7 percent of its GDP by the end of 2025. Earlier this month, Warsaw penned a contract to upgrade its existing fleet of already formidable F-16 Fighting Falcons. As part of the $3.8 billion deal, 48 of Poland’s F-16C/D Block 52+ Vipers will be upgraded to the F-16V configuration.
Remarking on the new defense deal, Poland’s defense minister and deputy prime minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, praised the Fighting Falcon platform. “Over 20 years ago, our predecessors made the choice of aircraft to replace the post-Soviet equipment in the Polish Air Force. We chose the F-16, and it was a very good decision – a proven aircraft, a platform capable of extraordinary combat operations.” He then added, “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 … as well as the ability to operate in any domain.”
Introducing the F-16 Fighting Falcon
Poland received its first batch of F-16s back in 2006, cementing the relationship between the US Air Force and Polish Air Force for the future. The Fighting Falcon is a Cold War-era product designed initially to serve as an air superiority fighter complement to the F-15 Eagle. Notably, the YF-16 prototype was designed to maneuver with minimal energy loss. This then-new Energy Maneuverability theory of dogfighting, considered to be the genius of Col. John Boyd and the “Fighter Mafia,” would make the F-16 unparalleled in the skies when introduced. From armament power and avionics to speed and electronic warfare, the F-16 has remained a top-tier fighter for decades. Original F-15 variants were equipped to lug the AIM-9 Sidewinder, Raytheon AMRAAM, Raytheon Sparrow, and other air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. Newer iterations can also carry precision-guided munitions and specialized counter-drone weapons, including the APKWS2 rocket.
L3 Harris to Provide New EW Features for Poland’s Vipers
As part of Warsaw’s new F-16 deal, its Viper fighters will feature a host of more advanced capabilities. L3Harris Technologies recently revealed that its AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield electronic warfare suite will be featured on Poland’s Viper F-16 fleet as part of the upgrade package. “We are honored Poland selected us to upgrade their F-16V multirole fighters,” said Ed Zoiss, the president of Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris. “Viper Shield is in production and will enable pilots to identify, locate and counter rapidly evolving threats faster with enhanced success.” According to the manufacturer, the Viper Shield will also be incorporated into fighters intended for other client states, including Bahrain, Morocco, Bulgaria, Taiwan, and Slovakia.
While the F-16 may be a technically aging platform, new upgrades and modifications will ensure the tried and trusted fighter series will remain relevant for years to come.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: DVIDS.
