Good direction for the air force

Was the decision that only a small over 20 aircraft were active in the air parade on August 15 besides a consequence of the accident?

In a way, but that was not the most crucial reason. First of all, this is due to the fact that pilots are very intensively trained. I was asked why we didn't see FA-50, AW-101, AW-149. That's due to the fact that their pilots do training tasks. The voice of reason prevailed. We cannot simultaneously execute operational and training tasks and engage in the parade.

I imagine that decision was good news for many airmen. Then let's go after the punch and talk about 1 more crucial issue for them, or pay.

Some solutions are being developed that reduce the differences between military and civilian earnings, although there is no way we can equalise them. But remember, the military offers many solutions that are not available to civilians, including the pension strategy or insurance. However, I would not like to shallow this issue to just money. I have conversations with young pilots from the "Z" generation and I know that earnings are important, but not the most important. Let us consider whether the reason for the pilots' departure to a civilian is not besides the terms of service, so bureaucracy, the request to participate in an infinite number of briefings alternatively of flying. It is besides a substance of the fact that pilots have been conducting very intensive combat work for more than 2 years. They accumulate vacations they can't use. I believe that this should be the subject of serious analyses. There should besides be a reasonable solution to this.

Let's leave the pilots alone for a while, talk about the equipment. Today, at the Aviation Day, the first F-35 aircraft will be presented to the Polish government delegation. For you, I suppose, it's besides a large day.

A real holiday! The F-35 is simply a immense change we all dreamed of.. Their acquisition is not only a breakthrough for the air force, but besides for Poland. It's part of a very crucial coalition puzzle. erstwhile defence plans are being created in the air domain in NATO, the Polish F-35 will surely be part of this plan. Especially on the Alliance's east flank. 1 can say again that the F-35 provides us with fresh operational capabilities and better defence capabilities, but I would like us to realise that this is only part of what will change this plane. This device is besides a political and military tool, thanks to which Poland will become more crucial in the global arena. With the F-35, we're gonna mean a lot more in NATO.

AH-64 helicopters will besides have this power. What is the thought of these machines?

There are very serious discussions on who should be the operator of this equipment: the ground troops or the air force. Unfortunately, the air voice in this case is somewhat weaker. And I think A complex platform like AH-64 should deal with the air force. The commanders of the ground troops would like the helicopters to be where the tanks are, but, in our opinion, it would be more convenient for the ground troops if we could usage another solution.

What do you mean?

The Air Force would supply all essential elements for the functioning of the system: logistics, training, contacts with US partners regarding their training support. We can do this due to the fact that we have years of experience. The maintenance processes of these helicopters are very complicated, they cannot be conducted in the field, in the division. They should be carried out in aircraft units that would devote all their efforts to land troops.

You were always a large FA-50 enthusiast...

I'm inactive here. Nothing's changed.

We're all waiting for the first combat call of these planes. Why isn't this happening yet?

But wait! How's it gonna happen? Personnel needs 2 to 3 years to prepare for these shifts. I myself was an F-16 pilot certified for combat duty. This happened 2 years after the adoption of aircraft. Should we accelerate this at the expense of flight safety? I would very much like to ask that pilots from the 23rd Tactical Aviation Base in Minsk be allowed to train and pass certification.

Is the implementation process FA-50 aircraft is implemented as planned?

Yeah, everything's truly fine. The pilots hold training, have 2 instructors from South Korea. We are fighting to have an teacher from the United States who will support the thought that the FA-50 squadron will be a mirror reflection of the F-16 squadron. There is indeed any impatience on our part, due to the fact that Poland sent Polish pilot F-16 to the US to train American pilots in Tucson. As part of the exchange, 1 of the American instructors was to train FA-50 pilots in Poland. Unfortunately, it hasn't happened yet. There are besides procedures between South Korea and the United States that have a certain brake on us. This is mainly about the FA-50 PL equipment. any components of the aircraft must be provided by the American side, and this continues.

Another novelty in the air force is SAAB 340 AEW reconnaissance aircraft. There's quite a few uncertainty about these platforms...

Yeah. SAAB is not a platform that has any possible for modernization and we cannot look at these planes in the context of the next 30 years. He's doing his occupation today. This acquisition initiated the acquisition of exploratory skills. However, we must think of something that will let us to make in this area in the coming decades.

Now that we're on the subject of the future of the air force...

Tankers. Air force must have tankers, we will not quit this idea. The full mark fleet of combat aircraft will have the ability to refuel in the air. Our pilots must train in this area.

So far we've been conducting training utilizing the tankers of our allies.

What are we gonna do in a crisis? erstwhile do we gotta number on each other? I don't know if we all realize how crucial this acquisition is. In order for us to make full usage of the power of combat aircraft purchased for dense money, these machines must be refueled in the air. If decisions are made on this matter, the possible of obtaining a tanker is not long. It'll take about 4 years if we consider A330 MRTT. We are besides reasoning about a bridge solution, for example a utilized KC-135.

Speaking of airplanes for dense money. What are the plans for fresh fighter aircraft squadrons?

There are 2 options for another 2 squadrons. The first is the acquisition of another F-35, the second is the acquisition of 4th generation aircraft, the alleged air advantage machines, which fly very advanced and are able to carry quite a few weapons. Each of these options has pros and cons. However, any of the arguments are controversial. It is said that another platform would origin any kind of a mess in the air force, that it is another logistics system. The advantage of this solution is that it creates completely fresh operational capabilities, closing the air domain in its highest layer. There are no easy answers here.

And if the decision-makers asked you for advice, which option would you recommend?

Everyone's gonna be OK. We can usage all option surgically. But buying it is simply a very complicated thing. It should be approached comprehensively, ask for offers, a plan of what we can gain in addition to the platforms themselves, i.e. technology, logistical support, training packages, fresh capabilities for Polish defence plants. 1 thing is certain: we request these abilities.

What about the transport fleet?

Let's be honest, it's not good. Hercules in H version change small but that they are a decade younger than the ones we had so far. But they're fundamentally the same machines. Avionika is analog, the cargo bay is the same as in the erstwhile version. We have long had analyses of what transport aircraft we request to evacuate or transport equipment or humanitarian aid. In short, yes, we request a larger fleet of transport aircraft.

Changes in the air force must entail changes in education. What should be changed to make things right?

He's in urgent request of chopper training. We're at the end of Mi-2. We request school helicopters to prepare young pilots to fly AH-64, AW-101, AW-149. I have no objection to training on M-346. As far as transport aircraft are concerned, we conduct analyses of whether the weight of training in Bryza can be transferred to training at the Academic Air Training Centre, which was established at the Military Aviation Academy. By the way, it's a truly cool, advanced air training facility. 1 of those things that we did great. He's in surgery at the facility. Diamond household platforms, that is light aviation. This training is definitely cheaper than Bryz. So we're wondering if a certain part of the transport training will be transferred to ACSL.

Do you know what the most common question is in public space erstwhile it comes to buying fresh air platforms?

I don't know, I'm listening.

The staff. How do you get people to fly it, who can handle this equipment?

That's not what I'm worried about. People are into aviation, and I don't see the problem with recruitment. On average, we have 4 candidates for 1 place at the Air Force Academy. beautiful good.

In Polish air forces, which are already crucial for NATO, and shortly will number even more, there are no women – pilots of our most modern F-16 combat aircraft. Why is it taking us so long to train a female who would sit behind the F-16? Almost 20 years have passed since these machines were in Poland.

I have any good news. It's going to happen any minute now, and in the United States, the first female to pilot the F-16 completes her training.

Great news. We change equipment and mentality!

Air force improvement looks promising. I'm so glad we know what we want. We know there's gonna be 10 combat squadrons. We know the form of chopper aviation. We have analysis of transport aviation. In the future, we'll put an accent on the drones. Poland “runs” towards air forces that will not only deter the enemy. They'll just be dangerous.