Poland has finalized a $3.8 billion agreement with Lockheed Martin to upgrade its fleet of 48 F-16 fighter jets. The modernization will upgrade the jets from the C/D Block 52+ standard to the latest F-16V Block 70/72 standard, enhancing capabilities such as reconnaissance, communications, and integration with newer military systems including Poland's incoming F-35A jets and M1A2 Abrams tanks. This upgrade is part of Poland's broader defense modernization efforts aimed at strengthening its military capacity amid regional security concerns, particularly potential Russian aggression. The deal also supports NATO interoperability and involves domestic defense industry participation at the Bydgoszcz WZL-2 facility. Concurrently, Poland celebrated Armed Forces Day with a large military parade in Warsaw, featuring several hundred military vehicles, around 4,000 soldiers, dozens of warplanes including F-16s, and participation from allied forces from the United States, Romania, and France. Additionally, the US State Department approved a separate $500 million sale of Lockheed Martin's HIMARS rocket systems to Bahrain, reinforcing US strategic interests in the Gulf region.