Lockheed Martin has presented Poland’s first F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to the Polish government. The aircraft, which will be known as a ‘Husarz’ in Polish service to pay homage to a historical Polish calvary unit, was presented during a rollout ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility at Fort Worth in Texas on 28 August 2024.
“Over more than 100-years of the Polish Air Force, there have been many generations of pilots and aircraft. I am proud to be part of history today, introducing the F-35 as the next generation, which will protect and defend Poland’s future for many years,” said Major General Ireneusz Nowak, Inspector of the Polish Air Force, at the ceremony. “We are joining a strong coalition of fifth-generation fighters across Europe, bolstering air superiority through allied deterrence,” he added.
The first Polish F-35A, designated AZ-01, will be delivered to the Polish Air Force in December and will be based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas, where Poland will be the first international customer (ie non-F-35 programme customer) to conduct F-35 pilot training.
The Polish Ministry of National Defence selected the F-35A and signed a letter of offer and acceptance for 32 F-35As in 2020.
Production of the first Polish F-35As began in 2023.
