{"id":152004,"date":"2026-07-30T01:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=152004"},"modified":"2026-07-29T22:59:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T17:29:46","slug":"polands-1st-italy-built-f-35-completes-maiden-test-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/30\/polands-1st-italy-built-f-35-completes-maiden-test-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland’s 1st Italy-Built Most Advanced Fighter Jet in the World Completes Maiden Test Flight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WARSAW-<\/strong> Poland’s first Lockheed Martin F-35A<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft follows the arrival of the first Poland-bound F-35A Husarz<\/strong> at \u0141ask Air Base<\/strong> in May 2026. While the F-35 does not operate under a commercial airline system and therefore has no IATA code<\/strong>, the aircraft will eventually be stationed at \u0141ask, Poland (LCJ)<\/strong> and \u015awidwin Air Base<\/strong>, strengthening Poland’s future combat capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poland's
Photo: Polish MoD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Italy-Built Polish F-35A Reaches Major Production Milestone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first Polish<\/a> 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<\/strong>, identifying it as the first aircraft from Poland’s second production batch of 16 fighters assembled in Italy, The Aviationist<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poland divided its order of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cameri is one of only two Final Assembly and Check Out facilities outside the United States, with the other located in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poland's
Photo: Italian Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Poland’s F-35 Acquisition Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The United States Department of State approved Poland’s request to purchase 32 F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL)<\/strong> fighters on September 11, 2019<\/strong>, in a deal valued at approximately $6.5 billion<\/strong>, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft are intended to replace Poland’s aging Soviet-designed MiG-29<\/strong> and Su-22<\/strong> fleets while significantly improving the country’s air defense and NATO interoperability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In January 2020, Poland formally signed the procurement contract, with deliveries originally expected to begin in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside the aircraft, Poland has invested heavily in advanced weapons compatible with the F-35 platform, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n