Poland disputes reports of F-16 pilot shortages

The Polish Ministry of National Defence has refuted reports claiming a significant shortage of F-16 fighter pilots within the Polish Air Force. The dispute follows reports suggesting that while Poland operates 47 F-16 aircraft, it possesses only approximately 40 fully trained pilots, whereas an optimal force would require at least 70.

According to the Ministry, the published figures are incorrect and do not reflect the true personnel potential of the military aviation. The Ministry stated that Poland has a significantly larger number of qualified F-16 pilots than reported and noted that many qualified officers are currently serving in command positions while maintaining their flight competencies.

Previous reports highlighted concerns regarding the long training cycle, which takes approximately 24 months, and limited capacity at the aviation academy in Dęblin. The Ministry emphasized that detailed data regarding the number of pilots assigned to specific aircraft types is classified for national security reasons and urged responsibility when publishing such information.