Air Force
Polish Ministry of Defence Acquires 750 Bombs for the Polish F-16 Jets
The Armament Inspectorate of the Polish MoD has finalized tendering procedures, the goal of which was to acquire Mk 82 and BDU-50 bombs, currently used by the F-16 Jastrząb jets. The order, the total value of which has been defined as almost 37 million zlotys, had been awarded to the Cenrex company. The delivery of 550 live and 220 inert bombs is to take place between 2017 and 2021.
The tendering procedure concerning the Mk 82 bombs with the FMU-152A/B fuses (Joint Programmable Fuse) and the technical kit required to utilize the bombs, has been announced in December 2016. It assumes the deliveries would take place in 2017 (200 examples), 2019 (200 examples) and 2021 (150 examples). This type of bombs may be easily converted into PGMs, with the use of proper Paveway or JDAM kits.
The total value of the contracts awarded to the Cenrex company is equal to 34.5 million zlotys. The bombs are being manufactured by the Spanish Expal company. Within a separate procurement procedure initiated in February this year, the Armament Inspectorate has announced a tender concerning 200 BDU-50 training bombs in a variant which would remain compatible with JDAM and Paveway guidance kits.
In the above case, the procedure also ended up in conclusion of an agreement with the Cenrex company which is to deliver the Expal BDU-50 bombs, in two 100-example lots, during the years 2017 and 2019. Total value of the agreement is as high as 2.36 million zlotys.
Recently, the Polish Armed Forces have acquired or have initiated tendering procedures concerning the procurement of ordnance for the F-16 Block 52+ aircraft operated by the 31st and 32nd Tactical Airbases. Alongside the aforesaid 550 Mk 82 and 200 BDU-50 bomb units, the above processes included a procedure of procurement of 440 GBU-12 bomb units, Paveway bombs, as well as 108 thousand 20 mm TP RRR LD M2 training cannon rounds, manufactured at the Polish Mesko facility.
At the end of 2016, on the other hand, acquisition contracts concerning the AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles, AIM-120C7 AMRAAM medium range air-to-air missiles and AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder short range air-to-air missiles were all signed. Furthermore the first of the AGM-158A JASSM missiles have already been delivered, with the relevant contract having been signed last year.