Polish MND signs LOA to upgrade its F-16C/D fleet to the Viper standard

The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) has signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) to modernise its entire fleet of 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft to the advanced F-16 Viper (F-16V) standard.

The LOA, which is valued at USD 3.8 billion (EUR 3.26 billion), was signed on 13 August 2025 at the Military Aviation Works No 2 (Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No 2 – WZL-2) in Bydgoszcz by Polish Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The Polish MND noted on its X account that, while control flights and the testing of two aircraft will be conducted in the United States, the rest of the work will be conducted at WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz.

The modernisation package for the Polish F-16C/D fleet will include integration of the following systems and capabilities:

• the AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned-array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR);
• a high-resolution centre pedestal display;
• an upgraded mission computer and a new display generator;
• advanced helmet-mounted devices;
• electronic warfare enhancements;
• the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod with digital video interface;
• the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System;
• structural modifications that will extend the aircraft’s service life to 12,000 flight hours.

The fleet of Polish F-16Vs will operate alongside the fleet of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning Joint Strike Fighters Poland has on order. The Polish Air Force also has a fleet of Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50 fighters that will eventually number 48 aircraft, along with a small number of Soviet-designed MiG-29s and Su-22s that will soon be retired.

Lockheed Martin noted in a press release on 14 August that the agreement also includes simulator upgrades, builds on Lockheed Martin’s 20-year partnership with the Polish Air Force and aligns with the country’s long-term defence modernisation roadmap.

Lockheed Martin added that, over the past decade, the company has invested USD 1.8 billion in Poland’s defence ecosystem, working with local industry to expand supply chain capacity and accelerate the delivery of critical systems.