In this article:
Polish Air Force F-16V upgrade
Poland has signed a contract to upgrade its F-16 fighter jets to F-16V Block 72.
A possible sale of modernization kits for Polish F-16s worth $7.3 billion was approved by the US State Department in October 2024.
The actual value of the contract is $3.8 billion, Defence24 reports.
The US government will outsource the work to contractors including Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-16, with deliveries of the upgraded aircraft expected to take place between 2030 and 2038.
The upgrade will bring Polish Air Force F-16 fighters to F-16V Block 72 configuration. The fighters will feature the AN/APG-83 SABR radar with an active phased array antenna, which will significantly improve combat capabilities, including the detection of targets such as cruise missiles.
Furthermore, the Polish F-16s will have new onboard computers and improved data transmission channels, which will ensure effective information exchange while a new generation of electronic warfare systems will enhance protection against enemy air defenses.
Polish F-16V upgrade
The AIM-120D AMRAAM air-to-air missile is among the modern weapons systems that will be integrated with the modernization to the F-16V standard. The combat effectiveness will be improved by the modification or replacement of a number of other systems. A high combat readiness until at least 2040 will be maintained thanks to the modernization package that includes operational support elements.
PGZ Military Aviation Plant in Bydgoszcz, where the contract was signed, will do most of the work. The first two F-16Vs will go to the US for testing, but some of the work on them will also be done in Bydgoszcz.
Polish industry will pay more than 50% of the value of the contract. The F-16 upgrade will be undertaken with the introduction of F-35A fighters and FA-50/FA-50PL light combat aircraft.
48 F-16C/D fighters were purchased by Poland in April 2003 with deliveries that took place from 2006 to 2008. Currently, Polish Air Force F-16s perform a significant number of tasks to protect domestic and allied airspace.
Block 70/72
The F-16 Block 70/72, offers unparalleled capabilities: it is equipped with Northrop Grumman’s advanced SABR APG-83 AESA fire control radar and has 5th Generation fighter radar capabilities, delivering unparalleled situational awareness and all-weather targeting precision. Its technology provides pilots with detailed digital map displays that are customizable with slew and zoom features. Of added benefit, the radar’s commonality with the F-35’s radar is a remarkable 95% for software and 70% for hardware.
The F-16 Block 70/72’s high-resolution center pedestal display provides critical tactical imagery and seamlessly integrates AESA and targeting pod data. Pilots receive enhanced awareness from the pedestal’s color moving maps, enlarged air-to-air situation displays and zoom functionality. Their capabilities are augmented by digital flight instrument data displays and a color/night helmet-mounted display.
The F-16 Block 70/72 boasts an extended structural life of 12,000 hours, equivalent to over 40 years of service for most air forces, with minimal structural repairs required. This longevity, coupled with greater inspection intervals, significantly reduces maintenance costs.
The inclusion of conformal fuel tanks enhances the aircraft’s operational flexibility and increases its fuel capacity and mission range — without compromising its aerodynamic efficiency.
Photo credit: Polish Air Force
