Poland has expressed interest in leasing or buying 28 Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs originally intended for Pakistan. A Polish delegation has visited the USA to look at the aircraft, which are in desert storage, but it is not clear whether the US Government is in a position to release the embargoed aircraft to a third country.
Poland has also been offered eight Boeing F-18C/Ds originally ordered by Thailand, which were repurchased by the US Government and are now destined for the US Marine Corps. In both cases, the aircraft are seen by Poland as an interim step towards the eventual purchase of 70 to 100 fighters, still three to four years away.
The US Government has been seeking a buyer for the embargoed F-16s in an effort to reimburse some of the $650 million Pakistan paid for the aircraft. After India's nuclear tests, reports circulated that the USA was considering lifting the embargo on Pakistan, but that evaporated when the country conducted its own nuclear tests.
Sources say the US Government is preparing information on the options available to Poland, which will be delivered within the next month. The USA has previously offered to lease the country ex-US Air Force F-16s or ex-US Navy F/A-18s.
Local reports suggest that Poland may also be considering leasing Bell AH-1 attack helicopters. The manufacturer is not aware of such a deal, but says it is in "very early discussions" with Poland on AH-1 coproduction.
Source: Flight International
