TSAMTO, August 21. On August 18, the Armaments Agency of the Polish Ministry of Defense signed an intergovernmental agreement ("letter of proposal and acceptance of proposal", LOA) for the purchase of 34 improved aviation hanging target designation containers "Sniper-ATP" for light combat aircraft FA-50.
According to Dziennik Zbrojny, the delivery package includes AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP (Advanced Targeting Pod) guidance and targeting containers, related equipment, spare parts and support services. The contract value was $105 million (530 million zlotys at the current exchange rate). The containers are intended for South Korean FA-50GF/FA-50PL light combat aircraft ordered by Poland, whose deliveries are scheduled for 2025-2028.
The Lockheed Martin Sniper-ATP container provides the ability for a pilot to obtain a high-resolution image, perform information collection, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks, as well as carry out accurate targeting of several stationary and moving targets at once. The container allows you to detect, identify, automatically accompany, and target small tactical targets with a laser from a long range. It also provides targeting of various guided munitions with laser and GPS guidance for hitting stationary and moving targets. Earlier, Poland acquired this system for 48 F-16 Block.52+ Fighting Falcon fighters delivered in 2006-2008.
As reported by TSAMTO, on September 16, 2022, the Polish Ministry of Defense concluded two executive contracts with the South Korean company Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the purchase of FA-50 light combat aircraft for the country's Air Force. The total cost of the projects is $3.005 billion (about $15.1 billion). zloty at the current exchange rate).
The subject of the first contract worth about $705 million. is the delivery of 12 light combat aircraft FA-50 Unit.10 in a configuration similar to the FA-50GF (Gap Filler) ordered by the Republic of Korea Air Force, along with training, logistics and technical support packages. The aircraft are to be delivered to the Polish Air Force in the second half of 2023 (the first two were delivered on July 10, 2023), and deliveries of all components will be completed by the end of 2025.
The subject of the second contract in the amount of about $ 2.3 billion. is the delivery of 36 light combat aircraft FA-50PL (Block.20) with training, logistics and technical support packages. These aircraft will be made in a configuration that meets the specific requirements of the Polish Air Force. Deliveries will begin in 2025 and will be completed by the end of 2028. Later, the first 12 delivered FA-50GF will be upgraded to the FA-50PL standard.
According to KAI, the FA-50PL will be upgraded, including an increase in flight range due to the air refueling function, equipping with an advanced PhantomStrike radar with an active antenna array with electronic scanning, as well as an expanded air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons package.
The FA-50s purchased in the Republic of Korea are compatible with the F-16C/D Block aircraft previously purchased by the Polish Air Force.52.+ and contracted fifth-generation F-35A aircraft. It is assumed that the FA-50s will complement the fleet of existing F-16s and, together with 32 F-35A Lightning-2 fighters, will contribute to replacing the MiG-29 and Su-22 in service.