Poland to become F-16 European service hub

[tigershark]

Poland to become F-16 European service hub
Created: 05.08.2008 13:09

Lockheed Martin has chosen Poland for its European service hub for the F-16 fighters.   The US aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corporation will sign an agreement with the Military Aviation Depot No.2 from Bydgoszcz, northern Poland, to jointly establish the F-16 Service Planning Office.  The Polish Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski are expected to attend the signing ceremony to be held in Bydgoszcz on Tuesday.   â€œThe Military Aviation Depot No.2 in Bydgoszcz will probably be the largest F-16 service in Europe,” Deputy Minister of the Economy Dariusz Bogdan announced in April, when the Polish government and Lockheed Martin were signing a new agreement broadening the scope of the US investments in Poland to offset Poland’s purchase of 48 F-1 fighters ordered from the USA.
In the first year of its operation, the Military Aviation Depot in Bydgoszcz will conduct technical and economic analysis of the aspects of the planned service of F-16 aircraft.   The Depot is said to be fully operational and ready to receive the first machines for servicing within two to three years.   â€œSo far, the Polish Defence Ministry and us have been focusing on the construction and supply of the F-16s. Now it is time to concentrate on more long-term issues, such as technical support,” Philip Georgariou, Director responsible for the Polish F-16 offset program at Lockheed Martin Corporation, is quoted on TVN 24 as saying.   
Currently, 41 out of 48 F-1 “Falcon” fighters ordered from the USA are operated by the Polish Air Force.

Source
http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/business/?id=88534