Poland Receives First F-35PL Fighters as ‘Husarz’ Era Begins

Poland has officially received the first batch of its F-35PL fifth-generation fighter jets, marking a major milestone in the country’s long-term military modernisation programme and significantly strengthening NATO’s eastern flank.

The arrival of the aircraft was confirmed by Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who announced via social media that the newly delivered fighters had landed at the Łask Air Base. A formal unveiling ceremony for the aircraft is scheduled to take place on 12 June.

The initial delivery includes three F-35PL aircraft, while Poland expects to receive an additional 14 jets by the end of this year and a further 12 aircraft before the end of 2027. The Polish Air Force has now formally inducted eight F-35s into its inventory overall. However, five of those aircraft will remain in the United States for the time being to support the training of Polish pilots, instructors and maintenance personnel.

Speaking about the delivery, Kosiniak-Kamysz described the moment as historic for both Poland and its armed forces. He stated that the aircraft had arrived at what will now serve as the home base for Poland’s F-35 fleet, officially named “Husarz”. According to the minister, the introduction of the platform represents a transformational leap in the operational capabilities of the entire Polish military.

He also emphasised the broader strategic significance of the programme, noting that the F-35s are the first fifth-generation combat aircraft to be stationed on NATO’s eastern flank. In his remarks, the minister argued that the deployment would reshape the security architecture of the region while substantially increasing Poland’s deterrence posture.

Poland’s pursuit of the F-35 Lightning II dates back to 2019, when Warsaw accelerated efforts to replace ageing Soviet-era aircraft still operating within its inventory. Polish officials viewed the acquisition of advanced Western combat aircraft as a critical step in modernising the armed forces and strengthening interoperability with NATO allies.

At the time, Poland had initially expressed interest in acquiring F-35 aircraft originally intended for Türkiye but ultimately not delivered. After that option failed to materialise, then-Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced in May 2019 that Poland intended to purchase 32 F-35 Lightning II fighters from the United States.

Blaszczak stated that replacing Soviet-era military equipment had become an urgent priority and confirmed that Warsaw had formally submitted a request to Washington covering 32 aircraft alongside logistics and training packages.

In September 2019, the United States Department of State approved the potential sale of 32 F-35 fighter jets to Poland through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, with an estimated value of $6.5 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency subsequently issued the required certification to Congress on 10 September 2019.

The final agreement was ultimately concluded at a lower overall cost of $4.6 billion. Under the contract terms, all aircraft are expected to be delivered to Poland by 2029. The package also includes spare engines, mission simulators, operational support systems, as well as pilot and ground crew training.

In August 2025, the US State Department approved an additional Foreign Military Sales package for Poland valued at an estimated $1.85 billion, covering sustainment, maintenance support and logistics services related to the F-35 fleet. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued the certification notifying Congress of the potential sale on 27 August.

The arrival of the first F-35PL aircraft signals the beginning of a new chapter for Polish airpower. As Warsaw continues to expand and modernise its fleet, the introduction of stealth-capable fifth-generation fighters is expected to play a central role in strengthening regional deterrence, improving NATO interoperability and reinforcing Poland’s strategic position on Europe’s eastern frontier.

Source: DefenceTurk