– I would like to have a debate in Poland and make it clear to the public why we are buying this equipment.
The F-16s were bought in a tender, everyone knew why this weapon strategy was purchased, what is active and what is the benefit for industry, the Polish Air Force and the Polish Armed Forces in general. The same was actual of M-346 as an advanced training aircraft, but already platforms specified as FA-50 and F-35 were purchased without a tender – he emphasized in an interview with Newseria Major dir. Robert Gałązka, pilot, teacher and expert in military aviation. “I would like to hear what the plan the Polish Air Force has on these platforms and how they intend to usage them in the face of fresh safety challenges. I think the period of asymmetric conflicts is over. We are a front country, bordering the Russian Federation, and we request to think about how to prepare for the next 10-15 years. I would like to see a comprehensive plan and clear targets.
Poland began receiving 32 multi-purpose F-35A Lightning II aircraft ordered in 2020
– Poland will request more combat aircraft if it wants to gain dominance in the air over its own territory – says Major Robert Gałązka. As he emphasizes, the acquisition of F-35, or multitasking platforms, importantly increases the capabilities of the Air Force, but does not finish the process of upgrading them. Subsequent purchases should be determined by the long-term aviation improvement strategy and the clearly defined function of the different types of machinery in the state defence system.
Poland began receiving 32 multi-purpose F-35A Lightning II aircraft ordered in 2020. The $4.6 billion contract was signed in the abroad Military Sales procedure, without tender and without offset agreement. The existing Armed Forces improvement Programme for the period 2025–2039 assumes the acquisition of another 32 combat aircraft. General Staff Chief General Wiesław Kukuła has indicated in fresh weeks that the military is only curious in 5th generation aircraft or newer ones. Subsequent contracts will include not only the acquisition of aircraft, but besides weapons, training packages and the participation of national industry.
No army builds aviation exclusively around 1 kind of machine
– The F-35 is surely a good purchase, due to the fact that it is simply a fresh generation aircraft and gives fresh opportunities to the Air Force and the Armed Forces as a whole," the pilot emphasizes. “The question is only what we request for these aircraft and what is active in this is the arms package, training package and offset for industry. We surely request a lot more platform for combat aircraft if we want air domination in our own territory. So we request hunting aviation to accomplish this, and we don't have that – so far we have multitasking aviation.
In June, the Business Centre Club addressed to the highest state authorities a call regarding the structure of subsequent purchases of combat aircraft for the Polish Air Force. The organization focused on a number of basic issues, including diversification of the kind of machinery it owns due to its usage for various activities and the availability and reliability of equipment. Although it does not dispute the acquisition of F-35 as a 5th generation aircraft, it indicates that no army is building aviation exclusively around 1 kind of machine. According to the organisation, the future fleet should combine multi-tasking aircraft with specialised air force fighters to supply greater operational flexibility and opposition to the exhaustion of combat resources than to base aviation capacity on only 1 kind of aircraft.
The threat is straight on our border, which is 150 km from the capital
– If I was asked 15 years ago, I'd say we request 300 F-16 aircraft and we'll be fine. At the moment, I changed my head due to what's going on beyond our borders. Therefore, we are building an integrated air defence strategy of Vistula, Narew, Pilica, San, but part of the air defence strategy is besides combat aviation. Multi-tasking aviation was created due to the fact that there was a single-polar planet at the time, and mostly no 1 predicted that there would be symmetrical armed conflicts," explains Major Robert Gałązka.
Some countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom, besides keep specialized aircraft for air domination alongside multi-purpose platforms. specified diversification of the fleet increases operational capabilities and is of peculiar importance for Poland, which does not have the alleged operational depth, i.e., as experts indicate, the threat is located straight on our border, which is 150 km from the capital.
Air domination is simply a essential component to accomplish victory
– If we want to defend the Republic of Poland, however, we must have dominance in the air over our own territory in order to unfettered manoeuvre of our own troops. After planet War II, there was no armed conflict in which the victorious organization had no dominance in the air. It is so a essential component in order to accomplish a victory, as indicated by the military aviation expert. – We deficiency a platform that is specialized in dominance in the air or its eradication. We presently have on the west side of F-22, F-15C, F-15EX and European Eurofighter. We request an effector, or long-range rocket, which will be able to remove the possible opponent from the Polish borders – says Robert Gałązka.
