48 Fighters Heading To Former Eastern Bloc Nation
The first F-16 Fighting Falcons acquired by the Polish air force
arrived at the 31st Air Base in Ponzan November 9, and were
featured at a special roll-out ceremony.
Gen. Tom Hobbins, Allied Air Component commander and US Air
Forces in Europe commander, represented the Air Force chief of
staff at the event which included speeches by the Polish president,
as well as a blessing of the aircraft and consecration
ceremony.
"Poland's acquisition of the F-16 cements the relationship
between the US Air Force and the Polish air force for several
decades to come," said General Hobbins. "This ceremony demonstrates
that Poland has become a very powerful and more vital member of
NATO than ever before."
The aircraft arrival marked a great leap forward for Poland as
they transform from aging Soviet-style equipment to some of the
most advanced systems in Europe and NATO, the general said.
"Poland's F-16s represent the most sophisticated aircraft in
Eastern Europe and will serve as a military-to-military engagement
magnet for forces in Europe," he said. "These aircraft are
extremely capable in any of the NATO roles, whether they're
utilized in counter-air missions in the NATO Response Force, or air
defense with the International Security Assistance Force in
Afghanistan."
In addition to the sophistication aspect of the aircraft, the
F-16 acquisition improves interoperability between NATO
nations.
"From an interoperability standpoint, air policing will be one
of the things that will be greatly enhanced as Poland brings down
the MIG-29s and begins to develop operational F-16s to do that
role," the general said.
To prepare the Polish air force for the arrival of their new
aircraft, Polish pilots and maintainers trained with their American
counterparts in the US to learn about the F-16's capabilities.
"There is a flow of Polish pilots going through training in the
US right now and coming back to Poland," said Lt. Col. Eric
Salomonson, an instructor pilot with the Arizona Air National
Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing. "We currently have 11 pilots training
in Arizona now."
Lt. Col. Salomonson said the Air Force is currently helping and
assisting the Polish with standing up their squadron in Poland, as
well as rotating mobile training teams through to assist with
aircraft maintenance.
As the Polish air force acquires a total of 48 F-16s over the
next two years, the US will continue to provide exchanges with
their Polish counterparts to improve their F-16 partnerships and
capabilities.
(Aero-News salutes Major Krista Carlos, US Air Forces in
Europe Public Affairs)
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