One Of 48 Planes Slated For "Peace Sky" Program
The first of 48 F-16s produced for the Poland Air Force "Peace
Sky" program was officially unveiled Friday, during a ceremony at
Lockheed Martin's production facility in Fort Worth, TX. The event
comes six months after the first flight of the aircraft, slated to
be the most advanced fighter aircraft in NATO.
"Poland is delighted to be taking delivery of an aircraft that
will not only transform our capabilities in the air but also those
of our ground troops and the Navy," said Poland Minister of Defense
Radoslaw Sikorski. "It will also significantly bolster the
operational capacity of our expeditionary forces."
The Poland Peace Sky Program began in April 2003. Friday's
rollout commemorates the 48 F-16s that Lockheed Martin is producing
for Poland. The aircraft joins a fleet of more than 4,300 F-16s
operated by 24 air forces around the world.
"This is a great day
for Poland and the United States," said USAF International Affairs
Deputy Undersecretary Bruce Lemkin. "The Polish Air Force now will
be flying a frontline, top-performance fighter, virtually the same
F-16 being flown by the US Air Force. The Peace Sky program
is the centerpiece of an enduring relationship between our air
forces and will allow us to train together, operate together, fly
together and learn from one another. These F-16s will provide the
foundation of interoperability that will enable us to carry out
operations as NATO and coalition partners."
Lt. Gen. Stanislaw Targosz, Commander of the Poland Air Force,
expressed pride that Poland has acquired such advanced F-16s. "The
Poland Air Force is proud to accept our new F-16 today," he said.
"Poland now has the most technologically advanced F-16s in NATO,
strengthening not only the Poland Air Force, but improving our
interoperability with other F-16 operators in the NATO
alliance."
"We have a new NATO beginning today," said Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics President Ralph D. Heath. "Peace Sky is physical
evidence of the vision both our nations shared to take Poland and
NATO to a new level with this most capable, combat-proven, 21st
century fighter."
The F-16 for Poland includes enhanced capabilities, modern
technologies and growth potential that will establish a foundation
for the Poland Air Force in the 21st century. "We have been on or
ahead of schedule in all key events," said Lockheed Martin's
Shrewsbury. "We will take every measure to ensure the Poland Air
Force achieves and maintains its highest levels of capability and
readiness while flying the F-16."
The Poland Peace Sky program includes 36 F-16Cs and 12 F-16Ds,
all powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine. This
first aircraft -- a single-seat F-16C model -- was accepted by the
US government (as agent for Poland in the Foreign Military Sales
process) on March 30, one month ahead of schedule.
The US government accepted the first two-seat F-16D version in
June. The first four aircraft will be ferried to Poland in November
with the remainder following in 2007 and 2008.
The F-16 is in service with 24 nations, with more than 4,300
aircraft delivered worldwide from assembly lines in five
countries.