The Polish Air Force’s F-35 program marked another milestone this week as the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces confirmed the delivery of two additional F-35A Husarz multirole fighters to the United States. The aircraft, tail numbers 3506 and 3507, arrived at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where Poland’s training detachment is steadily taking shape.
Training Component Grows Toward Full Strength
The new arrivals expand the Polish F-35 training fleet currently stationed in the U.S., where pilots and ground personnel are undergoing conversion training on the fifth-generation platform.
Poland plans to operate a total of eight F-35A jets in the American training program before subsequent deliveries begin reaching home bases.
According to the General Staff, flight trials for the eighth aircraft, No. 3508, are already under way at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, with delivery expected in 2026.
To date, the Polish F-35A Husarz jets in the U.S. have completed over 500 flights, marking steady progress in operational familiarization. Under Poland’s Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) with the United States, 24 Polish pilots will complete full-spectrum training including air-to-air combat, precision strike operations, systems management, and simulator-based mission rehearsals.
Deliveries to Poland to Begin in 2026
While the first eight jets remain assigned to American training units, the production of subsequent aircraft will soon transition to operational deployment in Europe.
Beginning with the ninth aircraft, deliveries will be routed directly to Poland’s 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, which will serve as the first operational home of the Husarz.
The first pair of F-35s is expected to land in Poland in May 2026, marking the start of domestic introduction and integration into NATO’s Eastern Flank air-defence architecture.
In the long term, two full Polish F-35 squadrons will be established — one at Łask and the second at Świdwin, underpinning Poland’s shift toward a modern, stealth-capable air combat force.
Poland’s Largest-Ever Combat Aircraft Purchase
Poland became the twelfth nation to join the global F-35 program when it signed its intergovernmental LOA agreement in January 2020. The deal covers 32 F-35A Lightning II Block 4 fighters, training systems, mission data support, logistics, and a full maintenance and sustainment package.
The contract, valued at approximately $4.6 billion, represents one of the most significant modernization projects in the history of the Polish Air Force.
The Global F-35 Program Continues Its Expansion
The F-35 remains the most widely produced fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the world. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,270 aircraft across all variants, and the global fleet has now surpassed one million cumulative flight hours.
Key enhancements under the Block 4 upgrade — the version Poland is receiving — include improved computing power, advanced electronic warfare systems, new precision weapons, enhanced sensors, and improved data fusion.
Strategic Significance for NATO’s Eastern Flank
With Russia’s continued military pressure on NATO’s borders, Poland views the F-35 as a core element of its future air-defence and deterrence posture.
The aircraft’s stealth capability, long-range precision strike, network-centric warfare integration, and sensor-fusion advantages are expected to transform Poland’s ability to conduct ISR, air dominance, and deep-strike missions.
Polish officials emphasize that the Husarz fleet will operate seamlessly alongside U.S. and allied F-35s in Europe, ensuring interoperability during joint NATO operations.
As deliveries continue over the next several years, Poland is preparing to become one of the most advanced air forces in Central and Eastern Europe — anchored by a next-generation combat aircraft fleet designed to meet evolving strategic threats.
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