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The first Polish F-16 fighter jet takes flight
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Ceremonies were held on September 15 at Lockheed Martin production facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, to commemorate the roll-out of the first Polish F-16 fighter jet produced through the Polish F-16 Peace Sky program. Polish dignitaries attending the ceremony included Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Fotyga, Minister of Defense Radosław Sikorski, and Commander of the Polish Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanislaw Targosz. U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, and Bruce Lemkin, Deputy Undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force for International Affairs represented the United States. “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 Minister of Defense Sikorski, who himself flew in an F-16 on September 14. “This is a great day for Poland and the United States,” said Deputy Undersecretary Lemkin. “The Polish Air Force now will be flying a frontline, top-performance fighter, virtually the same F-16 being flown by the U.S. 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.” When delivered, the Polish F-16 will be the most advanced fighter aircraft in Europe. For more information on this event, click here.
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