Lo
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.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
