Embassy Events 2006

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Ambassador Ashe Lauds F-16 Program

7 December 2006

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe, while addressing guests at the annual Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney Holiday Reception on December 5, 2006, underscored recent, major successes in the F-16 program and thanked the U.S. and Polish Air Forces and defense industries for their contributions. The Ambassador noted that 2006 was marked by the roll-out of the first Pratt & Whitney engines assembled in Rzeszow, Poland; the roll-out of Poland’s first F-16 at Fort Worth, Texas; and the arrival of the first four F-16 aircraft at Krzesiny Air Base. The Ambassador pointed out that 2007 would be an equally impressive year, with the arrival of many more aircraft, as well as U.S. and Polish pilots.


U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe
Remarks at Lockheed Martin Corporation and Pratt & Whitney Holiday Reception
December 5, 2006


It is my pleasure to address you today and to wish each and every one of you a joyous Holiday Season.

I would like to note that while the holidays are always marked by merriment, I can indeed notice that there is an especially festive atmosphere at this event and among our hosts.

For Lockheed, Pratt, the Polish Air Force, and the U.S. Government – and indeed for all supporters of the long-standing, Polish-American friendship – 2006 has been a very, very good year. We all have much to be proud of!

It was in May of this year that I had the pleasure of attending Pratt & Whitney’s “roll out” of one of the first jet engines ever assembled by Polish workers in a Polish plant in Rzeszόw. This was a great moment for U.S. and Polish defense industry!

In September, I was honored to be in Fort Worth, Texas, as Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corporation hosted Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski for the roll-out and demonstration of Poland’s first F-16. I will note that the Prime Minister and I also had the pleasure of previewing the first production model of the new F-22 Joint Strike Fighter.

Just a few weeks ago, President Lech Kaczynski and Poland’s First Lady accepted and christened Poland’s first four F-16s on behalf of the Polish Air Force and the people of Poland.

These were all significant and historic events, but I am told that, as the old saying goes, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”

Our F-16 program is moving forward. Four additional F-16s will land in Krzesiny this month. By next December, we will have dozens of aircraft and large quantities of armaments and equipment in Poland. Numerous Polish pilots who have been trained in the U.S., several more U.S. instructor pilots, and additional contractor support personnel will be working to make the program a success. Many challenges will present themselves, but I am certain that we have the right people to face them.

At the beginning of this holiday season, to the men and women of Lockheed and Pratt, of the Polish and U.S. Air Forces, of Poland’s Ministry of Defense, and of all the companies involved in this historic endeavor,…I’d like to raise my glass and say “thank you” for all your hard work, for all that you have done and all that you will do in support of our great Polish-American alliance.

• Polish F-16 Jets Arrive in Poland
• Polish F-16 Roll-out Attended by Polish and U.S. Dignitaries

 

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