Poland to modernise all 48 F-16s in $3.8bn upgrade with Lockheed Martin
August 15, 2025
Poland has finalised a $3.8 billion agreement with the United States to modernise its entire fleet of 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ fighter jets to the advanced F-16V Block 72 standard.
Lockheed Martin will deliver the work in partnership with Poland’s Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 2 (WZL-2), transforming the Viper fleet into one of the most capable in Europe. The programme will boost NATO interoperability and strengthen national air defences well into the next decade.
Strengthening the F-16 for modern warfare
The F-16V, also known as the Viper Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU), is the most advanced variant of the aircraft in service today.
Poland’s package includes the AN/APG-83 AESA radar, high-resolution Centre Pedestal Display, Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System II, upgraded mission computers, advanced electronic warfare suites, the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, and Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS).
Structural reinforcements will extend each airframe’s life to 12,000 flight hours, keeping them in service into the late 2030s and potentially beyond. Simulator and training infrastructure upgrades are also included, making this one of Europe’s most comprehensive F-16 enhancement programmes.
Lockheed Martin says the upgraded fighters will operate seamlessly alongside 5th-generation aircraft such as the F-35, remain fully compatible with NATO missions, and be sustained through long-term partnerships with Polish industry.
A major step in Poland’s wider military transformation
The F-16 upgrade is one pillar of Poland’s sweeping military modernisation, accelerated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Warsaw is investing heavily across all domains, from tanks and attack helicopters to air defence systems and new-generation fighter jets.
Poland has ordered 32 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters. The first, named Husarz, has already been unveiled, and Polish pilots began training in the United States earlier this year. The upgraded F-16Vs will complement the stealthy F-35A fleet, enabling joint missions that share sensors, targeting data, and airspace roles.
“After 20 years, our current F-16s are no longer sufficient to meet modern threats,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. “We must improve reconnaissance, communications, and integration with F-35s, Abrams tanks, and Apaches, ensuring Poland can operate effectively in every domain.”
Once complete, Poland’s F-16s will field capabilities previously reserved for newer-generation aircraft, including:
- Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83 SABR radar, capable of tracking over 20 targets simultaneously at long range, with high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mapping and resistance to jamming.
- New GPS/INS navigation with M-Code capability, enhancing precision and survivability.
- Advanced IFF systems (AN/APX-126/127) with Mode 5 and CIT features, strengthening friend-or-foe recognition.
- New weapon integrations, including AGM-158 JASSM long-range cruise missiles, GBU-53/B SDB II precision bombs, and AIM-9X Block II Sidewinders.
- MS-110 reconnaissance pods, dramatically boosting ISR capabilities.
Poland’s F-16s have already served in NATO Baltic Air Policing and coalition operations overseas. But with Russian drones and missiles increasingly testing Polish airspace, officials say the new systems are essential to deter and, if necessary, defeat future threats.
Built in Poland, for Poland
A key feature of the programme is its domestic execution at WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz, reinforcing Poland’s defence industrial base. Lockheed Martin has invested $1.8 billion in the country’s defence sector over the past decade.
“This is not just an investment in our military. It’s an investment in our economy,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. “Our goal is for Poland to be among the top three NATO countries in operational capabilities. This modernisation is a step in that direction.”
Local production is expected to strengthen the workforce and speed the integration and sustainment of the upgraded aircraft. The Foreign Military Sales contract also covers new weapons systems, targeting and navigation enhancements, and training packages.
Poland joins a growing European F-16 upgrade club
Greece is already modernising its F-16s to the Block 72 standard, while Slovakia has begun receiving new-build Block 70s. Bulgaria has ordered 16 F-16s, with the first eight due by the end of 2025. The Netherlands will also transfer 18 aircraft to Romania.
According to Lockheed Martin, six countries have selected the Block 70/72 configuration, with 114 aircraft in the production backlog as of early 2025.
Poland’s modernisation will begin in 2028 and run through 2038, underscoring its long-term commitment to the Viper even as the F-35A takes its place in the fleet.
“For 20 years, the F-16 has protected Polish skies and supported NATO missions,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz. “With this upgrade, it will continue to do so — stronger, smarter, and ready for what lies ahead.”
