Defense Minister off to U.S. to negotiate acquisition of used F-16 fighters

Defense Minister Bronislaw Komorowski will fly to the U.S. next Tuesday to negotiate terms of acquiring used F-16 fighter planes. "This is the only option we can afford at present," said Komorowski, justifying himself with the argument that this is the most popular NATO aircraft. According to the American embassy, the U.S. government is planning to give Poland 16 used F-16 planes, each worth $2.5 million after forthcoming renovations. Poland will receive the aircraft for free, but will pay the U.S. for pilot training and the cost of overhaul. Left-wing Alliance (SLD) has objected to the plan, since the planes will be chosen on the basis of a government-to-government agreement and not through a tender. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4