The first American F-35s will soon arrive in Poland
The first F-35 fighter jets manufactured by the U.S. for Poland are expected to arrive in late May. This will mark a key milestone in the introduction of fifth-generation fighter jets into the Polish military, which has been preparing the necessary infrastructure and training pilots for their operation for several years, according to RMF24.
This is part of a long-term defense contract with the U.S., under which Poland will receive 32 modern F-35A aircraft. The first aircraft have already completed production and testing, and part of the training for Polish military personnel is underway at a U.S. base in Arkansas.
The Polish airbase in Lask is preparing to receive the first aircraft, and final technical and organizational work is already being completed there. This base will be home to the first squadron of the new fighter jets. “We are ready and awaiting the arrival and touchdown of the first F-35 fighter jets on Polish soil. This will be a significant moment, D-Day,” stated Colonel Krzysztof Duda, commander of the 32nd Tactical Air Base.
According to him, the aircraft, which are currently in the U.S., are already being used to train Polish pilots and technical personnel. This allows for the gradual integration of the new equipment into the Polish Air Force system. The base in Łask is part of the 2nd Tactical Aviation Wing and has long been operating modern combat aircraft, including the F-16. Now it is moving to a new level as it prepares to operate the F-35.
Polish command emphasizes that this process has been ongoing for several years and involves a large-scale modernization of infrastructure. In 2025, the base received U.S. certification confirming the readiness of its facilities to operate the new fighter jets. “The certification was preceded by the modernization and expansion of the infrastructure at the Lask airfield,” Duda noted.
As part of the preparations, technical systems, logistics, communications, and security measures were updated. This is necessary for the full-scale operation of fifth-generation aircraft, which have complex digital and combat architecture.
Poland signed a contract to purchase F-35s in 2020 worth $4.6 billion, making it one of the largest defense deals in the country’s history. Deliveries will continue until 2029, and by the end of 2026, Poland is set to receive 14 aircraft.
The F-35 is manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin, and these fighter jets have already become a key component of NATO’s air force. They are in service with the United States and a number of European countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, and other allies.
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