Poland has received its first F-35 fighter jets from the United States
On the evening of May 22, 2026, the first batch of three state-of-the-art fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, purchased from the United States, arrived at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask (Łódź Voivodeship). The arrival of these aircraft marked a historic milestone for regional security, as they are the first fifth-generation combat aircraft deployed directly on NATO’s eastern flank.
This was reported by Polsat News.
Welcome to Poland!
Three F-35s flying together in the sky with our F-16s… pic.twitter.com/5U4l9IaZmI— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) May 22, 2026
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed the successful landing of the American aircraft on his official page on social media platform X and released exclusive footage of their joint flight in the country’s airspace alongside Polish F-16 fighter jets. The official emphasized that the integration of the F-35s, which have been officially named “Husarz” (Hussar) in honor of the legendary winged cavalry, is not merely a technical upgrade of the fleet, but a symbolic entry of the country into the top tier of global military aviation. The aircraft’s unique radar and stealth technologies allow it to detect and neutralize air or ground threats long before the fighter itself is spotted by enemy air defense systems.
This involves a long-term defense contract with the United States, under which Poland will receive 32 modern F-35A aircraft. The first aircraft have already completed the production and testing phases, and part of the training for Polish military personnel is currently underway at a U.S. base in Arkansas.
