WARSAW- The Republic of Poland formally welcomed its first three F-35A Husarz fighters into service, marking the country’s official entry into fifth-generation airpower and a defining moment for the modernization of the Polish Air Force.
The milestone makes Poland the first nation on NATO’s eastern flank to operate a fifth-generation combat aircraft, reinforcing allied deterrence and Warsaw’s expanding role in collective European defense.
Poland Welcomes Three F-35 Fighter Jets
The acceptance ceremony took place at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask and marked the in-country arrival of the first three F-35A Husarz aircraft.
The event was attended by Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of National Defence, commanders of the Polish Armed Forces, U.S. and allied representatives, and industry partners.
To mark the occasion, the aircraft performed a flypast over the country. Two F-35 jets flew over Poland before noon with an escort of two F-16 fighters, appearing over Westerplatte before following the Vistula River toward Warsaw and later Kraków.
OJ Sanchez, President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, described the arrival as an important step for Poland’s defense and for regional security across Europe.
He noted Poland’s leadership within NATO through its commitment to modernization and interoperability, and reaffirmed Lockheed Martin’s commitment to supporting Polish forces as they operationalize the aircraft’s full capability.
Strengthening NATO’s Eastern Flank
The Husarz fleet enhances Poland’s ability to operate seamlessly with allied air forces while reinforcing NATO’s defense posture along its eastern border. Advanced sensor fusion allows the F-35A to conduct integrated operations across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains in contested environments.
Poland’s transition represents a significant shift in regional airpower. Polish pilots previously operated Soviet-built MiG-29s and Su-22 fighter-bombers delivered in the 1980s, making the move to a stealth multirole fighter a major leap in capability.
The new fleet positions Poland alongside Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and the United Kingdom as European F-35 operators.
From Fort Worth to Łask
The first three of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft, designated F-35PL Husarz in national service, carry serial numbers 3509, 3510, and 3511.
The jets were flown from Lockheed Martin’s production plant in Fort Worth, Texas, to Poland, with a stopover at Lajes Air Base in the Azores.
Poland signed a contract worth approximately $4.6 billion in January 2020 to acquire 32 F-35A jets, a package that also includes spare engines, mission simulators, and logistical support.
A further eight Polish F-35s remain at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for training purposes. The full fleet is planned for basing at Łask, with Świdwin also selected to host the aircraft.
Inside the F-35A Husarz Capabilities
The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing variant operated by the United States Air Force and most international customers. Its stealth derives from aligned edge geometry, radar absorbent coatings, internal weapons and fuel, a reduced engine signature, and an advanced electronic warfare suite.
The Polish airframes are Block 4-capable and configured for the Joint Strike Missile, AIM-9X, AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM, and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, with the full sensor-fusion package.
The aircraft reaches speeds of around Mach 1.6, carries a 25 mm GAU-22/A cannon, and integrates an internal weapons load supported by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine.
Industrial and Economic Impact
Beyond its operational value, the program continues to support high-tech manufacturing and industrial cooperation across Europe, including long-standing collaboration with Polish suppliers.
Roughly 25 percent of the aircraft’s production by value is sourced from European suppliers, sustaining skilled jobs and strengthening the regional defense industrial base.
Poland’s arrival adds mass to a European F-35 community that already includes Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Belgian, British, Finnish, and German operators.
The F-35 remains the fighter of choice for 20 allied nations, with a global fleet of more than 1,330 aircraft, keeping it the most advanced, survivable, and connected fighter in operation today.
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