The Polish military recently announced its decision to designate the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II as the F-35 Husarz, paying homage to the renowned Polish Winged Hussars, a distinguished cavalry unit from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Reports indicate that the initial batch of F-35 aircraft destined for Poland is nearing completion and is anticipated to roll out from Lockheed Martin's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, in the upcoming months. Fortunately, these deliveries remain unaffected by any delays associated with the company’s Technology Refresh 3.
Despite this progress, it will be some time before F-35s are operational from Polish air bases. According to Gary North, vice president for customer requirements at Lockheed Martin, the first F-35 planes for Poland are set to leave the factory this summer. However, they will initially serve as training aircraft for Polish pilots at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, between late 2024 and 2026.
Poland is scheduled to receive its first batch of F-35s in 2026, making its air force the first in the region to operate this fifth-generation fighter. Over the following years, Poland, as a NATO member, will establish F-35 operating units at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Lask and later at the 21st Tactical Air Base in Swidwin.
In the meantime, other NATO allies like Czechia and Romania are also gearing up to incorporate the Lightning II into their respective air forces within the next decade.
Poland's procurement of the F-35 stems from a deal signed in January 2020, worth approximately $4.6 billion, with the United States for 32 of these advanced jets. Deliveries are expected to continue until 2030, with batches of four to six units per year. Production of Poland's F-35A variant, the conventional takeoff and landing model, commenced in 2023.
This move by the Polish military is part of its broader effort to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-era Sukhoi Su-22 and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters with modern Western-made aircraft, capable of countering the Russian Aerospace Forces’ Sukhoi Su-35s. While alternatives like the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-15EX Eagle II were considered, the F-35 emerged as the preferred choice.
Budget constraints may impact any potential expansion of Poland's F-35 order. Currently, Poland operates a limited number of F-16C/D Fighting Falcon Block 52+ fighters and South Korean KAI FA-50 Golden Eagle light attack aircraft.
Driven by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Poland has accelerated its efforts to modernize its air force. This was evident in July 2022 when Warsaw signed a $3 billion deal to acquire 48 South Korean-made fighters.
As Poland prepares to become the first NATO member to regularly operate and station the F-35 in close proximity to Russia, it's likely to raise eyebrows in Moscow.
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