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ckheed Martin has rolled out Poland’s first F-16 fighter aircraft under the Peace Sky program that began in April 2003 and that will give Poland the most advanced fighter aircraft in NATO. In attendance at Lockheed’s Fort Worth, Tex., production facility, were Gen. Michael Moseley, US Air Force Chief of Staff, and Polish Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Stanislaw Targosz. Targosz commented that the Peace Sky F-16s would not only strengthen Poland’s air force, but also improve “interoperability with the other F-16 operators in the NATO alliance.” The first four aircraft will be sent to Poland in November, with the remaining 44 expected in 2007 and 2008.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.