The Polish Air Force currently operates a fleet of 48 F-16 multi-role fighter jets, comprising 36 single-seat F-16C Block52+ and 12 two-seat F-16D Block52+ versions. The deliveries of these aircraft were concluded between 2006 and 2008.
As the Chief of the Polish Armament Agency stated, Poland is preparing to sign a contract with the United States for the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) of its F-16 fleet.
According to sources, Poland intends to upgrade all 48 F-16 fighters.
The scope of the future upgrade contract is yet to be agreed upon, but it is known that the Polish Air Force is interested in the most modern version of the F-16 – Block70/72.
In recent years, Poland has significantly increased spending on air force modernization. In 2020, Poland signed a USD 4.6 billion contract for 32 F-35A aircraft, with a delivery timeline scheduled for 2026-2030.
In addition, in 2022, Poland signed two contracts with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for a total of 48 FA-50 light attack aircraft. The combined value of these two agreements is more than USD 3 billion. KAI has already delivered 12 FA-50 aircraft ordered under the first of the two agreements. The remaining 36 jets (in the upgraded standard) will be handed over to Poland between 2025 and 2028.
