The first of 32 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets to be deployed to the Polish Air Force was unveiled by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, on Wednesday.
Designated AZ-01, the 5th-generation fighter jet will be delivered in December, but will be based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas, where Poland will conduct F-35 pilot training.
The first Polish F-35, named ‘Husarz’ (winged knight, after a former cavalry unit), is not expected to arrive in Europe until 2026, and the fleet is expected to be completed by 2030.
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The ceremony at the F-35 production facility was attended by Ministry of National Defense Paweł Bejda, Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk and members of the air force.
More than 1,000 F-35 delivered
“Over more than 100-years of the Polish Air Force, there have been many generations of pilots and aircraft. I am proud to be part of history today, introducing the F-35 as the next generation, which will protect and defend Poland’s future for many years. We are joining a strong coalition of 5th generation fighters across Europe, bolstering air superiority through allied deterrence,” said Major General Ireneusz Nowak, Inspector of Polish Air Force.
“As the NATO aircraft of choice, the F-35 is a powerful force multiplier and critical to deterring and defeating threats for Poland and its allies,” said Greg Ulmer, president, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “We are honored to strengthen our enduring partnership with Poland through today’s celebration, ensuring Polish national security and long-term capability development for decades to come.”
Poland selected the F-35A as a replacement for its aging Soviet-era Su-22 and MiG-29 fighters in 2019. Some of those jets were transferred to Ukraine after the Russian military invasion in 2022.
The F-35 has collected several victories in foreign competitions, and Lockheed Martin has already delivered more than 1,000 aircraft as of July.
Despite this, deliveries of the stealth fighter were paused for about a year due to problems with the TR-3 technical upgrade. Only weeks ago, the manufacturer resumed sending jets to the U.S. Air Force.
