Poland takes keys to new F-16 jets (see pictures)

UPI ^ | Sept. 15, 2006

[lizol]

Poland takes keys to new F-16 jets

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Poland has taken possession of the first of an eventual 48 U.S.-made F-16 jets equipped with a new reconnaissance package that offers real-time imagery.

Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski was in the United States this week to meet with Bush administration officials and to formally accept delivery of the aircraft under the U.S. Peace Sky foreign military sales program.

The jets, built by Lockheed Martin, are of the F-16C/D, Block 52 version, which carries upgraded electronics and a higher-performance F110-GE-129 engine.

The Fighting Falcons earmarked for Poland are also equipped with a digital, real-time reconnaissance system that gives the Polish air force a long-range surveillance and targeting capability that fits in with potential multi-national missions requiring steady airborne intelligence.

Poland currently has small contingents serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and this week committed additional boots-on-the-ground to the Afghan theatre.

The DB-110 system produced by Goodrich Corp. is currently used on Japan's OP-3C maritime surveillance plane and the Royal Air Force Tornado.

"Delivery of our system will be ... a step-up in the tactical ability of Poland's F-16 fleet," said Ken Luczaj, president of Goodrich's Optical and Space Systems Division. "The delivery of this innovative system to Poland will mark the first use of this technology aboard F-16s."

[lizol]

[FFIGHTER]

Very appropriate Fighting Falcons for Poland.

[Red Badger]

20 years ago, if you'd told me this was gonna happen in 2006, I'd a told you that you were a freaking lunatic!..........

[AzSteven]

Thanks for that graphic there - I feel another Tamiya F-16 kit in my near future.

[lizol]

Minister of National Defence Radoslaw Sikorski flew a multirole fighter F-16

2006-09-15 10:51:37

On Thursday, 14th of September at 10.30 pm CET, Minister of National Defence Radoslaw Sikorski flew a multirole fighter F-16 at the American military base Forth Worth in Texas.

The aircraft was piloted by the Lockheed Martin Corporation test pilot – Trey Pennington - former U.S. Marine Corps pilot.
Lasting approximately one hour flight served as an opportunity to familiarize the Minister with performance of the F-16 fighter.
The event gathered wide crowd of journalists, soldiers, LMC employees and other guests who with interest and curiosity observed the flight.
Prior to the occurrence the Minister of National Defence underwent a series of detailed medical examination which confirmed his readiness to enjoy this aerial experience.

[LIConFem]

Even though it's old technology, the F-16 is still one of the prettiest planes ever built!

[lizol]

Eastern European ping list

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FRmail me to be added or removed from this Eastern European ping list

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Once again, Poland sets out to save Europe.

[lizol]

Ping

[domenad]

Only a few thousand miles on this baby. Belonged to an old lady who used it once a week for shopping.

[Catholic Canadian]

Are these newly manufactured F-16s?

[humblegunner]

I feel another Tamiya F-16 kit in my near future.

Tamiya is great, I used to build their tanks.

Made dioramas for 'em and everything! ;-)

[lizol]

[lizol]

Yep, they are.

At least are supposed to be :-)))

[gipper81]

Russia has got to like this. Any comments from Vlady and his KGB friends?

[Tennessee_Bob]

Last model I built before I went into the Air Force was the Tamiya 1/32 scale F-16, done up as a T-Bird. Kind of prophetic, because after I went through tech school, my shop did all the heavy engine maintenance for the Thunderbirds.

[lizol]

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article15.html

[MARKUSPRIME]

Yep they are new. The F-16 is a combat proven aircraft. Strap on some BVR missile's and someone is in for a bad day.Yes its not an F-22 but for price to preformance ratio nothing beats the F-16.

[dfwgator]

Their pilots sure helped to save Britain's bacon in WWII.

[SengirV]

So did Poland buy out Purina(Insignia), or the other way around?