The Polish military is unhappy with the pace of their F-16 modernization, even though negotiators managed to speed up the project as much as possible in challenging conditions. This opinion was expressed by the Deputy Commander of the Polish Air Force, Major General Ireneusz Nowak.
He told about this in an interview with Defence24.pl. He emphasizes that although funding for the modernization program was already available, limited availability of F-16 upgrade kits posed a problem due to the aircraft's popularity and the large number of operators.
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However, Novak also complains that Poland often neglects the issue of weapons modernization. "We have always operated the least modernized aircraft, including post-Soviet models. The F-16 faced the same issue until practical experience revealed the urgent need for modernization." First and foremost, this concerns the radars of these fighters.
The contract for the modernization of Polish F-16s was signed in August this year. The deal is worth $3.8 billion. One of the main upgrades will be the new AN/APG-83 SABR radar with AESA.
As of today, project work under this agreement is ongoing with the U.S. government. According to a representative of the Polish Air Force, Colonel Sebastian Paluch, the first modernized aircraft is expected to be ready in 2029, a year earlier than previously reported, when deliveries were scheduled between 2030 and 2038.
It should be noted that the Poles are learning from the F-16 modernization mistakes when planning upgrades for other jets, notably the F-35, where modernization issues were addressed during the purchase phase, before production of the first aircraft began.
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