Three Lockheed Martin F-35As touched down at Lask on May 23, marking Poland’s first in-country delivery of fifth-generation stealth fighters and a pivotal moment on NATO’s exposed eastern flank.
Three Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighters landed Friday at Poland’s Lask Air Base, completing the first in-country delivery of fifth-generation jets from a $4.6 billion, 32-aircraft contract that represents the second-largest defense deal in Polish history.
The arrival positions Poland as the first nation on NATO’s eastern flank to field a fifth-generation combat aircraft — a milestone that comes as Warsaw sharply accelerates its defense spending in response to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz called it a defining moment.
“This is a great day for Poland, the Polish armed forces, for the air force,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
A Ceremony Marked by Precision
The three jets — bearing tactical numbers 3509, 3510, and 3511, and locally designated “Husarz” after Poland’s historic heavy winged cavalry — entered Polish airspace escorted by a pair of Polish Air Force F-16s. One escort aircraft was piloted by Maj. Gen. Ireneusz Nowak, deputy commander of the Polish Armed Forces. Base fire trucks greeted the aircraft with a traditional water salute on arrival.
Lockheed Martin confirmed the jets departed from Fort Worth, Texas, with U.S. contract pilots conducting the transatlantic ferry flight. The aircraft temporarily carried U.S. markings and made a stopover at Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island in the Azores, with U.S. Air Force aerial refueling tankers supporting the transit.
“These are the first fifth-generation fighters on NATO’s eastern flank capable of detecting threats before they themselves are spotted,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. “For Poland, this is not just new equipment, but entry into the top league of global air forces.”
A formal induction ceremony is scheduled for June 12, the Polish Defense Ministry confirmed.
Program Details
The acquisition was executed through an intergovernmental Letter of Offer and Acceptance and covers 32 conventional take-off and landing F-35A Block 4 variants at an estimated unit cost of approximately $87.3 million per jet. The contract also includes 33 F135 engines, eight simulators, and logistics support. Sixteen jets will be assembled at the European final assembly line at Cameri, Italy; the remaining 16 at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility. Deliveries are scheduled to conclude by 2029, with full operational capability targeted for 2030.
Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed the 32 Husarz aircraft will equip two tactical aviation squadrons, with the first based at Lask and the second at the 21st Tactical Air Base in Świdwin, where construction is under way.
From Arkansas to the Front Line
Polish pilot training began in January 2025 at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, after the first two aircraft arrived at the facility in December 2024. Col. Nick Ihde, commander of the 85th Fighter Group, said the first cohort of six Polish pilots completed primary training in August 2025 and immediately transitioned to an instructor upgrade program.
“They are going to be the actual instructors in their home country when they get back home and start flying the F-35,” Ihde said.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Hassell, commander of the 57th Fighter Squadron, said experienced fighter pilots require approximately six months to transition to the F-35. Hassell also said the jet makes it easy to see everything on the battlefield and allows pilots to battle-manage and serve as mission commanders while remaining nearly invisible to other aircraft. Polish pilots complete academics and simulator training at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida before conducting live flight operations over Arkansas.
Aviation analytics company Cirium reports Poland has received eight F-35 jets in total, including those currently used in the U.S. training program. The Polish training fleet surpassed 1,000 flight hours over an 18-month period as of February 2026. The first eight jets will remain at Ebbing until late 2027 before relocating to Poland for operational deployment.
Ground infrastructure modernization at Lask cost approximately 2.5 billion zlotys. The project began in 2022 and received U.S. military accreditation in March 2026 after meeting strict technical servicing and information security standards. The U.S. State Department in August 2025 approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Poland for F-35 sustainment and logistics support, valued at an estimated $1.85 billion.
Broader Defense Landscape
Poland’s F-35A delivery is one pillar of a sweeping fleet transition. The jets will replace Poland’s decommissioned Soviet-designed Sukhoi Su-22 and Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft. Warsaw signed a separate $3.8 billion agreement with the United States in 2025 to modernize its 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ fighters. Poland has also received 12 South Korean Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50GF light attack jets and is awaiting 36 advanced FA-50PL variants; it is separately evaluating a potential acquisition of the Boeing F-15EX advanced multirole fighter.
Polish defense officials confirmed Warsaw is spending approximately 4.8% of its gross domestic product on national defense, the highest rate among all NATO members. President Donald Trump announced the deployment of an additional 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland; total Polish arms purchases from the United States stand at approximately $63 billion.
The Polish Defense Ministry said stealth technology is the key element enabling the air force to carry out missions effectively against an adversary equipped with advanced anti-access systems. Defense analysts noted the F-35’s stealth, electronic warfare, and network-centric capabilities are expected to give Polish air units a distinct advantage over Russian Su-35S and Su-57 aircraft. Each Husarz jet will carry precision-guided munitions, including Joint Strike Missiles with a range of 555 kilometers, Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs.
According to Cirium, nine European countries now operate a combined total of 247 F-35 jets.
Key Takeaways
- Poland accepted three F-35A Husarz stealth fighters at Lask Air Base on May 23, from a $4.6 billion, 32-aircraft contract — the second-largest defense deal in Polish history.
- The jets are the first fifth-generation fighters on NATO’s eastern flank; a formal induction ceremony is scheduled for June 12.
- Polish pilots have trained at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas since January 2025; the first eight jets remain in the U.S. until late 2027.
- The 32-jet fleet is targeted for full operational capability across Lask and Świdwin by 2030.
- Poland allocates approximately 4.8% of GDP to defense — the highest share among all NATO members.