Ministry: Poland cancels radar-absorbing coatings for F-16 jets Due to lack of funds

The Polish Ministry of National Defence has disclosed that a lack of funds forced the cancellation of plans to apply radar-absorbing coatings to the F-16 fighter jets purchased from the US.

As part of an effort to cut costs, the Polish government has decided to scale back on military aircraft maintenance, impacting the defence capabilities of the fleet, Caliber.Az reports per Polish media. 

The decision not to apply the radar-absorbing coating — which would have made the jets less detectable to enemy radar — has raised concerns among politicians and military experts. 

Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Defence Committee Bartosz Kownacki voiced strong criticism of the move, calling it a significant blow to the strength of the Polish Air Force. 

"By forgoing the radar-absorbing coating, we are weakening the defence potential of our Air Force," Kownacki stated.

The lawmaker emphasised that the committee would demand a full explanation from both the Ministry of National Defence and the military regarding the decision. 

"We will demand explanations from the Ministry of National Defence and the military regarding this scandal," Kownacki added, highlighting the gravity of the situation. 

As Poland continues to modernise its military, the decision to cut funding for such key defence upgrades has sparked debate over the prioritisation of defence spending and its impact on national security.

By Naila Huseynova