Poland's costly air power: F‑16 upgrades in spotlight
The cost of flying an F-16 fighter for one hour is several thousands of dollars, which includes not just fuel but also technical maintenance. By comparison, the hourly cost of flying an FA-50 is half as much. These are the estimates.
3:14 PM EST, November 13, 2024
The Polish air fleet comprises 48 F-16 fighters and several MiG-29s from the Soviet era. According to "Business Insider," the F-16s are the most frequently used, and the cost of flying them for one hour is about $19,000. This figure includes both fuel and maintenance costs.
What contributes to the cost of flying the F-16?
During a flight, the F-16 consumes around 740 gallons of JET-A1 fuel, which costs about $2.97 per gallon. Additional expenses cover engineering and aviation maintenance.
How does this compare to other aircraft? "Business Insider" reports that:
- For the MiG-29, the hourly flight cost is over $24,000,
- and it's even more expensive for the F-35—between $30,000 and $36,000 per hour.
Reportedly, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces is reluctant to disclose the number of combat flights, making it difficult to fully understand operational costs.
Polish F-16 fighters to be upgraded
The U.S. State Department has approved the upgrade of 48 Polish F-16 fighters to the more advanced Viper variant, with an estimated cost of $7.3 billion. This modification is necessary as these aircraft have reached half of their expected service life.
Introduced in 2012, the modernization includes an advanced radar, improved onboard computer and avionics, guidance systems, electronic warfare systems, and upgraded cockpit control panels.
