WARSAW- Poland’s first Lockheed Martin F-35A Husarz built at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility in Italy has successfully completed its first functional test flight. The milestone advances Poland’s acquisition of 32 fifth-generation fighters as part of its long-term air force modernization program.
The aircraft follows the arrival of the first Poland-bound F-35A Husarz at Łask Air Base in May 2026. While the F-35 does not operate under a commercial airline system and therefore has no IATA code, the aircraft will eventually be stationed at Łask, Poland (LCJ) and Świdwin Air Base, strengthening Poland’s future combat capabilities.
Italy-Built Polish F-35A Reaches Major Production Milestone
The first Polish F-35A produced at Leonardo’s Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility in Cameri, Italy, has completed its first functional test flight. The aircraft carries the tail number 3517, identifying it as the first aircraft from Poland’s second production batch of 16 fighters assembled in Italy, The Aviationist reported.
Aviation photographer Diego Mor captured the aircraft after it returned from the successful test flight, confirming another significant step in Poland’s F-35 acquisition program.
Poland divided its order of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters equally between the United States and Italy. The first 16 aircraft are being manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, while the remaining 16 are assembled at the Cameri FACO.
Cameri is one of only two Final Assembly and Check Out facilities outside the United States, with the other located in Japan.
Poland’s F-35 Acquisition Program
The United States Department of State approved Poland’s request to purchase 32 F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) fighters on September 11, 2019, in a deal valued at approximately $6.5 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The aircraft are intended to replace Poland’s aging Soviet-designed MiG-29 and Su-22 fleets while significantly improving the country’s air defense and NATO interoperability.
In January 2020, Poland formally signed the procurement contract, with deliveries originally expected to begin in 2024.
Alongside the aircraft, Poland has invested heavily in advanced weapons compatible with the F-35 platform, including:
- AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles
- AGM-158B JASSM-ER long-range cruise missiles
- AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles
- AGM-88G AARGM-ER anti-radiation missiles
- AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM missiles approved in 2025
These acquisitions provide Poland with both air superiority and long-range precision strike capabilities.
Deliveries and Pilot Training Continue
The first Polish F-35A, designated AZ-01, was officially unveiled during a rollout ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility on August 28, 2024, attended by senior Polish officials.
Although AZ-01 was the first aircraft unveiled, AZ-02 became the first Polish F-35 to fly, successfully completing its maiden flight on December 2, 2024.
Initial aircraft deliveries were made to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Polish pilots and maintenance personnel are undergoing training under the Foreign Military Sales program.
The first operational aircraft arrived at Łask Air Base (LCJ) in May 2026. Poland expects to receive all 32 fighters by 2030.
Originally, all aircraft were planned for deployment at Łask Air Base. However, the Polish Ministry of National Defence later decided to divide the fleet between Łask Air Base and Świdwin Air Base, increasing operational flexibility.
Low-Visibility National Markings Introduced
Poland’s F-35 fleet features a new low-observable version of the country’s traditional white-and-red checkerboard insignia.
Unlike previous Polish Air Force aircraft, including the MiG-29 and Su-22, which carried full-color national markings even after receiving gray camouflage, the F-35 adopts subdued markings to preserve the aircraft’s low-observable characteristics.
The change reflects standard practices among F-35 operators seeking to minimize visual and radar signatures while maintaining national identification.
Cameri FACO Plays a Strategic Role
The Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out facility covers approximately 101 acres and consists of 22 buildings, more than one million square feet of covered workspace, 11 assembly stations, and five maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade bays.
The facility is owned by the Italian Ministry of Defence and operated jointly by Leonardo and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
Around 800 highly skilled personnel work at the site, assembling both the F-35A and F-35B variants.
In addition to aircraft assembly, Cameri manufactures 835 complete wing sets for the global F-35 program and remains the only production facility outside the United States capable of assembling the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B.
The facility also serves as the official Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) center for European F-35 operators.
Growing Importance for European Customers
Cameri’s strategic role has expanded beyond aircraft production.
In March 2025, an F-35A assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s 495th Fighter Squadron “Valkyries” became the first American aircraft in Europe to undergo planned depot maintenance at the Italian facility.
European customers can request aircraft production at Cameri with approval from the U.S. government. Aircraft built in Italy meet the same production standards as those assembled in Fort Worth because U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency personnel oversee quality assurance throughout manufacturing.
Although Cameri produces approximately 15 aircraft annually compared with roughly 130 aircraft per year at Fort Worth, the Italian facility has become increasingly attractive due to shorter production timelines.
Lockheed Martin previously confirmed that Cameri is currently producing Technology Refresh 2 (TR-2) aircraft, which are not affected by the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) delays experienced at Fort Worth. These aircraft can later be upgraded to the TR-3 standard, allowing customers such as Poland to receive deliveries more quickly.
The Bottom Line
The successful first flight of Poland’s first Italy-built F-35A represents another key milestone in the country’s transition to a modern fifth-generation fighter fleet.
With production split between the United States and Italy, expanding pilot training, and deliveries continuing through 2030, Poland is steadily enhancing its air combat capabilities while strengthening its role within NATO’s collective defense framework.
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