Poland’s First F-35As Land at Łask as Warsaw Pushes Ahead With Major Defence Modernization

The arrival of Poland’s first F-35A Lightning II fighters at Łask Air Base marks one of the most significant steps in the country’s post-Cold War military transformation. Three F-35A aircraft landed at the 32nd Tactical Air Base near Łódź, becoming the first Polish fifth-generation fighters to arrive permanently on national territory. Delivered from the United States and escorted by Polish F-16s, the aircraft’s arrival offered a clear image of the transition now taking place inside the Polish Air Force, as Warsaw moves from a force built largely around fourth-generation platforms toward a more advanced and networked air combat capability.

The F-35A, built by Lockheed Martin, will operate in Polish service under the name Husarz, a reference to Poland’s historic Winged Hussars. The name connects one of the country’s most recognizable military traditions with its most advanced modern combat aircraft. For Poland, the delivery comes at a time of intense defence investment. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Warsaw has moved quickly to reinforce its armed forces, ordering new aircraft, tanks, helicopters, artillery systems, air defence assets and ammunition. Within that wider modernization effort, the F-35 programme stands out as one of the most visible and strategically important acquisitions.

Poland signed its F-35 agreement in 2020, committing to the purchase of 32 F-35A fighters. The aircraft are expected to provide advanced strike, reconnaissance and air combat capabilities while improving Poland’s ability to operate alongside other NATO air forces. Polish officials have described the arrival as a turning point for the country’s military. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the aircraft would change the operational capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces and highlighted their importance as part of Poland’s growing defence relationship with the United States, alongside other major acquisitions such as Abrams tanks and Apache attack helicopters.

The first Polish F-35A was unveiled at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility in Texas in 2024, and since then Polish pilots, instructors and technical personnel have been training in the United States. This preparation phase is essential because the F-35 is not operated like a conventional fighter. Its value is not limited to speed, weapons or stealth alone; much of its strength comes from its ability to collect, process and distribute information across the battlespace. In practice, the aircraft functions as part of a wider digital combat network, using its sensors to detect threats, track targets and share data with other aircraft, ground units and air defence systems.

The aircraft’s stealth characteristics also provide Poland with a capability it has never previously possessed. In heavily defended airspace, low-observable aircraft can operate with a higher chance of survival than traditional fighters, especially in environments shaped by advanced radar networks, electronic warfare and long-range missile threats. This is particularly important for NATO’s eastern flank, where any future crisis would likely involve dense air defence systems and fast-moving battlefield conditions. The F-35A can also carry a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, precision-guided bombs and long-range strike weapons, allowing it to support both defensive and offensive missions.

In Polish service, the F-35A is expected to complement the existing F-16 fleet, which remains a central part of the country’s tactical aviation. Poland is also receiving South Korean FA-50 aircraft, which will support training and light combat duties as the air force expands and modernizes. The initial aircraft at Łask are only the beginning of the programme. Poland is expected to receive the rest of its order gradually over the coming years, with current planning indicating that the fleet will eventually be based at both Łask and Świdwin. This would give the Polish Air Force two major locations capable of supporting fifth-generation fighter operations.

Infrastructure and training will remain major parts of the programme as more aircraft arrive. Operating the F-35 requires secure maintenance facilities, mission data systems, specialized ground equipment and highly trained crews. For that reason, the arrival of the first aircraft does not mean Poland has instantly reached full operational capability. That process will develop step by step as additional jets, pilots, instructors and technicians become available. Even so, the strategic significance is immediate: Poland has now joined the group of NATO countries operating fifth-generation aircraft, bringing its air force closer to the alliance’s most advanced operational standards.

The arrival also carries wider political and military importance. Poland has repeatedly argued that NATO’s eastern flank must be strengthened in response to Russian aggression, and its recent defence purchases show Warsaw’s intention to become one of the alliance’s most serious military contributors in Europe. By investing in F-35s, Abrams tanks, Apache helicopters and other advanced systems, Poland is building a force designed not only for national defence but also for deeper NATO integration. The presence of F-35s in Poland will support joint exercises, allied planning and regional deterrence, while also improving interoperability with other NATO members that already operate or are preparing to operate the aircraft.

Poland’s F-35 programme is therefore more than a national procurement project. It is part of a broader shift in European airpower, as more NATO members adopt fifth-generation aircraft and build a shared operational ecosystem around them. For Poland, located directly on the alliance’s eastern edge, that integration is especially important. The first three aircraft at Łask are only the beginning of a long transition, but their arrival confirms that Poland’s fifth-generation era has started. Over the next several years, the Husarz fleet is expected to become one of the key pillars of Polish air defence and an important asset for NATO’s posture in Central and Eastern Europe.