The U.S. State Department has approved a £6 billion ($7.3 billion) Foreign Military Sale to Poland, aimed at upgrading its existing fleet of F-16 Viper fighter jets.
This Midlife Upgrade (MLU) package includes a wide range of advanced equipment and support services designed to enhance Poland’s air defence and surveillance capabilities, according to a press release from the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 23 October 2024.
Poland has requested a variety of upgrades for its F-16s, including “fifty-eight (58) Improved Programmable Display Generators, fifty-eight (58) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), and fifty-eight (58) AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radars,” among other key components. These systems will modernise Poland’s fleet, bringing them to the latest Viper configuration and bolstering their national defence.
In addition to these upgrades, Poland is set to receive advanced weaponry as part of the sale, including “three (3) AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) Flight Test Vehicles, Captive Carry; three (3) Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II), GBU-53/B Guided Test Vehicles (GTV); and two (2) AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Special Air Training Missiles.”
These additions will significantly enhance Poland’s ability to engage targets over longer distances with greater precision.
The sale also includes non-major defence equipment. The DSCA press release confirms that “major modifications and maintenance equipment; Phased Array Warning System (PAWS-2) missile warning systems; Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS II); and spare parts” will be provided to ensure the continued operational effectiveness of the F-16 fleet.
These items will not only support Poland’s air capabilities but also contribute to NATO’s overall defence infrastructure.
According to the DSCA, the upgrade will allow Poland to “modify and upgrade its existing F-16 aircraft to the new Viper configuration,” thereby reinforcing the country’s air defence and surveillance capabilities. The sale supports U.S. foreign policy objectives by “improving the security of a NATO ally” and enhancing Poland’s role in NATO’s collective defence.
Lockheed Martin, based in Greenville, South Carolina, will serve as the principal contractor for the upgrade. The DSCA notes that “the purchaser typically requests offsets,” which will be defined during negotiations between the Polish government and Lockheed Martin.
Additionally, the sale includes “classified and unclassified software delivery and support, technical documentation, studies, and surveys,” providing Poland with the necessary support to integrate these complex systems into its defence framework.
While U.S. personnel will provide engineering, technical, and logistical assistance, the DSCA confirms that “implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Poland.”
