Poland's current leadership considers active involvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and close bilateral political- military cooperation with the United States (US) to be essential in guaranteeing Poland s external security 65). In order to strengthen the transatlantic security concept in Europe and become fully integrated into NATO defense structures, Poland has made modernizing its military one of its top priorities. Although participation in the war in Iraq has greatly accelerated these efforts in terms of combat experience 86), much of Poland s equipment and weaponry remain holdovers from the Soviet era. This is especially true in the Polish Air Force (PoAF) which continues to operate a fleet of aging Soviet aircraft. In many ways, the prolonged reliance on Soviet equipment and its associated modus operandi has perpetuated the existence of an outdated, Soviet- style military culture within the PoAF which has hindered its transformation into a modern Western fighting force. In January of 2003, the Polish Air Force placed an order for 48 American F-16 fighter aircraft in order to upgrade its military capabilities and facilitate its integration into NATO. The F-16 represents the first Western fighter aircraft that the PoAF will operate since World War II and it brings with it a completely new set of operational philosophies, tactics, training methods and maintenance procedures. Because these aspects each characterize a very tangible divergence from Soviet operational influence, preparations to fly the F-16 are significantly facilitating the Polish Air Force s adoption of Western (NATO) air practices. Although there are certainly many growing pains, the imminent delivery of the F- 16 (scheduled to begin in November 2006) is providing the PoAF with both the impetus and necessity to overcome the institutional barriers which have impeded progress in the past.


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