Contract for F-16 Modernization. We Know the Date and Location [DEFENCE24 EXCLUSIVE]
Photo. mł. chor. Rafał Samluk / Combat Camera DORSZ / zoom.mon.gov.pl
Even before this year’s Polish Armed Forces Day, the contract to modernize the F-16C/D „Jastrząb” multirole fighters is set to be signed, Defence24.pl has found off the record.
According to our sources, the signing will take place at the premises of WZL-2 facility in Bydgoszcz, where a portion of Poland’s F-16 fleet is already undergoing work. The same facility has carried out MLU (mid-life update) procedures on US Air Force F-16C/Ds based in Europe. The choice of location may therefore indicate that at least part of the Jastrząb modernization will be performed in Poland.
The contract is expected to be signed on August 13 or 14 of this year. Poland currently operates 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ multirole fighters. These aircraft entered service between 2006 and 2008, revolutionizing the Air Force and enabling it to transition to Western standards. Today, the F-16 is Poland’s most important combat aircraft.
Ground crews and aircrews working on them are also the busiest in these challenging times. Other types in service are either aging with limited capability (MiG-29, Su-22) or are only newly introduced and not yet operationally ready (FA-50, F-35A).
Meanwhile, the Jastrząb fleet has reached the midpoint of its planned service life and has required an MLU for several years now. Though less glamorous than acquiring brand-new airframes, this modernization is no less critical for Poland’s defence. The upgrades will not only enhance the aircraft’s capabilities but also extend their service life.
The exact scope of the contract, and hence the modernization package Poland will choose, is not yet known, nor are the final prices. The maximum package approved by the U.S. State Department for Poland is valued at up to USD 7.3 billion. However, much of that equipment is „optional,” so the actual figure should be significantly lower.
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It is known that the aim is to upgrade the Jastrząbs with the V package toward Block 72 standard. The V bundle is modular, and it’s not yet clear whether Poland’s F-16s will receive the full package or only select modules. We can, however, expect a replacement of the radar with the new AN/APG-83 SABR active electronically scanned array, installation of a new electronic warfare system, and improved communications interoperability with F-35A aircraft. The modernization will also enable Polish Jastrząbs to employ new weapons such as the AIM-120D-3 missile.
The modernization contract will undoubtedly be the best opportunity to improve the F-16 fleet’s support and maintenance framework. It is widely acknowledged that the current sustainment model has been far from ideal, causing complications and, in some years, reducing operational readiness.
Previously, Poland’s F-16s underwent minor upgrades—such as enabling the use of JASSM-family cruise missiles.
