Memorandum of Understanding between USA and Poland

The Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Poland Bogdan Klich and the Ambassador of the United States to Poland Lee Feinstein signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Defense of the United States of America and the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Poland on cooperation of the Air Forces of the United States of America and the Republic of Poland, on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

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The Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Poland and the Ambassador of the United States to Poland signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Defense of the United States of America and the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Poland on cooperation of the Air Forces of the United States of America and the Republic of Poland, on the territory of the Republic of Poland. The Memorandum confirms and provides details to the decision on development of cooperation of the Polish and the US Air Forces announced by the Presidents B. Komorowski and B. Obama in December 2010 in Washington.

The Memorandum is a significant element of implementation of the Declaration on Strategic Cooperation between the United States of America and the Republic of Poland, adopted in 2008. Furthermore, it develops and gives a new dimension to the already existing intense cooperation of the Polish and the US Air Forces, conducted mainly through joint training exercises, also involving the F-16 aircraft. Due to the fact that the Polish Armed Forces possess one of the most technologically advanced F-16 versions, this cooperation should bring mutual advantages and be developed in the spirit of partnership.

The Memorandum, along with the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the United States of America on the status of the Armed Forces of the United States of America in the territory of the Republic of Poland (SOFA Supplemental) signed on December 11th, 2009, will provide the foundation for development of cooperation between Polish and the US Air Forces. If deemed necessary, the Memorandum will be supplemented by additional technical arrangements.

The Memorandum foresees deepening of the cooperation between the Polish and the US Air Forces through the rotational deployment to Poland of the US multitask F-16 aircraft and C-130 transport aircraft, supported by the US Air Forces Aviation Detachment deployed to Poland on a continuous basis. The rotations are going to be conducted four times per year. Two rotations per year should comprise of the F-16 aircraft.

The Memorandum states that the cooperation will start in 2012, while the first rotations of the US aircraft will take place in 2013. The rotations should be conducted at air bases where similar Polish aircraft are stationed. The US Air Forces Aviation Detachment continuously deployed to Poland is going to be stationed in one of these bases.

The development of cooperation between Polish and the US Air Forces will bring Polish-US relations in the defense domain to a higher level, as it will introduce the first continuous presence of the US Armed Forces detachment in the territory of the Republic of Poland. It will positively influence Polish security. Simultaneously, it will stimulate the more balanced distribution of the US and NATO armed forces and military installations in Europe. This initiative should also contribute to the implementation of the NATO Strategic
Concept’s goals, especially with regard to strengthening Alliance’s collective defense capabilities and deepening interoperability of the armed forces of the NATO Allies.

Implementation of the project will also have a significant military value to Poland, as it will contribute to deepening interoperability of the Polish Air Forces with the US and Allied units. Moreover, it will enable Polish pilots and ground personnel to improve their skills through exercises and training with crews who are the most experienced in the use of F-16 and C-130 aircraft. Consequently, cooperation with the US will increase combat capabilities of the Polish Air Forces and will add to the capabilities with regard to receiving Allied reinforcement forces in Poland.