"Poland's F-16s represent the most sophisticated aircraft in Eastern Europe and will serve as a military-to-military engagement magnet for forces in Europe.
"These aircraft are extremely capable in any of the NATO roles, whether they're utilized in counter-air missions in the NATO Response Force, or air defense with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan." [19]
The following year, after Bulgarian and Romanian air bases had been acquired by the U.S. and NATO, Hobbins said: "We're moving in with some of our newest NATO allies like Romania and Bulgaria. One of the best benefits - there is the actual ability to train with these new nations and build a long lasting relationship. It's being involved, their weapons training detachments allows us to build trust and confidence with our friends and neighbors. Poland is another good example [of] moving east.
"That's going to bring the newest, most modern and sophisticated fighter to that area of the region. We will actually be able to rotate fighter units through there...." [20]
The suggestion was made by a U.S. Air Force official that F-16s currently stationed at the Aviano Air Base in Italy be transferred to Poland.
In March of 2009 the Pentagon delivered the first of five C-130 Hercules military transport planes to Poland, the last expected to arrive this summer. The U.S. commander in charge of the transfer said at the time, "Ultimately they want to deploy C-130s to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Our mission is the help assist them to become fully operational to NATO standards." [20]
"According to Brig. Gen. Tadeusz Mikutel, Poland's 33rd Air Base commander, the Hercules will be the biggest of the country's aircraft." [21]
The preceding month the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita (The Republic) revealed that NATO had allotted over one billion euros for the development of military infrastructure in Poland. "The modernisation of seven military airports, two sea ports, five large fuel bases (12 are planned) and six strategic long-range aerial radars has already been completed." [22]
In addition, NATO will equip "military airfields in Powidz, Lask and Minsk Mazowiecki with new installations to improve the logistical and defence capacity of these bases.
"Air defence headquarters are to be set up in Poznan, Warsaw and Bydgoszcz; a radio communications centre will be located in Wladyslawowo on the Baltic coast.
"A newly built training centre in Bydgoszcz should be fully equipped [with] computer devices by the end of the year (total cost EUR 40 million)." [23]
In June of 2009 Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said that NATO would inaugurate a Joint Battle Command Centre in the northern city of Bydgoszcz where NATO has run a Joint Force Training Centre since 2004.
The defense chief said, "The Alliance has made the decision to open a new NATO cell, a new joint regiment within NATO. According to the decision, commanders from three regiments will be located in Bydgoszcz.
"In Bydgoszcz, we will have the permanent commanders of [a] battalion and
other components: one of six joint mobile modules, a security component and
logistics and support operators," which include approximately 200 NATO troops.
Klich added "that NATO has decided to heavily invest in Poland by modernizing military infrastructure including air and sea bases." [24]
On the same day the same source, Polish Radio, reported that "Poland will appoint seven generals to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
One of them will be deployed in the NATO headquarters in Norfolk, USA. [Allied Command Transformation.]
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