{"id":11976,"date":"2026-06-16T07:06:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T07:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/poland\/11976\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T07:06:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T07:06:05","slug":"poland-inducts-first-f-35as-as-warsaw-moves-to-double-fleet-size","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/poland\/11976\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland inducts first F-35As as Warsaw moves to double fleet size"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Poland <\/a>formally inducted its first three F-35A Lightning II<\/a> fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters<\/a> into operational service on June 12, performing a series of flypasts over several locations across the nation to welcome the advanced new platform. <\/p>\n

With 32 examples currently on order, it was also revealed that Warsaw plans to double its F-35A acquisition <\/a>to 64 jets, which would facilitate the creation of two more squadrons of the type.<\/p>\n

Historia polskich F-35
Witajcie w domu \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1! pic.twitter.com\/eRsQK5cEzR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1 (@MON_GOV_PL) June 12, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Known as the F-35PL \u2018Husarz (Hussar)\u2019 in Polish Air Force (PoAF)<\/a> service, the first three conventional take-off and landing (CTOL)-configured Lightning IIs (serials 3509, 3510 and 3511) were delivered to the 32nd Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego (BLT; Tactical Air Base) at \u0141ask on 22 May. <\/p>\n

These initial jets were flown to their new home operating base in central Poland from Lockheed Martin\u2019s<\/a> production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, via the Azores, Portugal<\/a>, with support from a US Air Force (USAF)<\/a>-operated KC-46A Pegasus<\/a> tanker.<\/p>\n

\u201cF-35PL already in Poland! We are joining the group of countries with fifth-generation fighters,\u201d the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) said following their arrival in-country. \u201cF-35s feature \u2018stealth\u2019 capabilities, which are a key element enabling effective mission execution in the event of a conflict with an adversary possessing advanced anti-access systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LockheedLockheed Martin rolled out its first F-35A for Poland on 28 August 2024. Image: Lockheed Martin<\/p>\n

In January 2020, Poland inked a $4.6bn contract for the acquisition of 32 F-35As to replace the PoAF\u2019s ageing fleet of Cold War-era MiG-29 Fulcrum<\/a> fighters, which first entered service between 1989 and 1990.<\/p>\n

As Poland crept closer to welcoming its first operational F-35As, the nation has been donating examples of its now-waning Fulcrum fleet to Ukraine<\/a> as the latter continues to repel invading Russian forces following the latter\u2019s unprovoked invasion, which began in February 2022.<\/p>\n

In addition to the 32 F-35As, Poland also acquired full mission training simulators, relevant equipment and spare parts, along with a comprehensive training, logistics and maintenance support package to aid its operation of the Lightning II. <\/p>\n

\"Poland'sPoland\u2019s first three operational F-35As (serials 3509, 3510 and 3511) fly in formation with a PoAF-operated F-16C Block 52+ Fighting Falcon (serial 4057) during the national flypast conducted during the latter\u2019s induction ceremony on 12 June 2026. Image: Lockheed Martin\/Piotr Gubernatorial via X<\/p>\n

So far, 11 Polish F-35As have rolled off the production line at Fort Worth, with the first eight (serials 3501 to 3508) being based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base (ANGB)<\/a> in Arkansas, where they are being used to support air\/ground crew training operations.<\/p>\n

In total, 24 PoAF pilots and 90 maintainers will be trained at Ebbing ANGB before the third quarter (Q3) of 2027. Once this contingent has completed its F-35A training operations in the US<\/a>, the eight Polish F-35As currently based at Ebbing will redeploy to Poland, where domestic training efforts will begin.<\/p>\n

Stealth debut: Polish F-35s mark induction with national flypast<\/p>\n

On 12 June, the PoAF formally inducted its first three operational F-35As into frontline service during a ceremony at \u0141ask. The event introduced the type to Polish residents for the first time, with all three jets performing ceremonial flypasts over Poland\u2019s largest cities as part of the \u2018Welcome to Poland\u2019 operation.<\/p>\n

The three F-35As departed \u0141ask in the morning of 12 June, before completing their first flypast over Gda\u0144sk at approximately 0945hrs (local time). After appearing over Poland\u2019s historic Westerplatte peninsula, the aircraft then headed for the nation\u2019s capital, Warsaw, where they flew along the Vistula at the height of the Warsaw Citadel at roughly 1010hrs (local).<\/p>\n

Tysi\u0105ce os\u00f3b w Gda\u0144sku, Warszawie i Krakowie wysz\u0142y dzi\u015b spojrze\u0107 w niebo na polskie F-35 #Husarz<\/a> \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1<\/p>\n

Za tym widokiem stoj\u0105 miliony Polak\u00f3w, kt\u00f3rzy ka\u017cdego dnia pracuj\u0105 na si\u0142\u0119 naszego pa\u0144stwa. Dzi\u0119ki Wam mo\u017cemy inwestowa\u0107 w bezpiecze\u0144stwo i budowa\u0107 nowoczesn\u0105 armi\u0119.<\/p>\n

To pi\u0119kny\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/s3GQv3baPb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 W\u0142adys\u0142aw Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) June 12, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

After visiting Warsaw, the Polish Lightning IIs ventured to Krak\u00f3w, where they conducted a flypast over Wawel Hill at approximately 1035hrs (local). The last city to be included in this demonstration was \u0141\u00f3d\u017a, where the aircraft completed a flyover of the Lviv Airmen Roundabout at 1105hrs (local), before heading back home to \u0141ask. This symbolic mission saw Poland\u2019s new F-35As joined by PoAF-operated F-16C\/D Block 52+ Fighting Falcons<\/a> along the route.<\/p>\n

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) to comment on the arrival of the F-35A on 12 June, Poland\u2019s President Karol Nawrocki said: \u201cThis is a historic day for the Polish Armed Forces and for our security. Poland is joining the elite group of countries that operate fifth-generation aircraft with unique combat capabilities\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is the achievement of many service personnel and civilians who worked on the purchase and introduction of the F-35 into the Polish Air Force. It is also the result of a strong, strategic alliance with the [US] and another visible sign of friendship between our countries, especially symbolic in the year marking the 250th anniversary of US independence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

My\u015bliwiec F-35 jednocze\u015bnie wykrywa, analizuje i przekazuje informacje o zagro\u017ceniach innym elementom pola walki \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1<\/p>\n

Dzi\u0119ki zaawansowanym sensorom i technologii stealth widzi wi\u0119cej, leci dalej i zwi\u0119ksza skuteczno\u015b\u0107 ca\u0142ego systemu obrony. Dlatego F-35 nie wzmacnia tylko Si\u0142\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/PT6gtaF2bZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 W\u0142adys\u0142aw Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) June 14, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

During the induction ceremony, W\u0142adys\u0142aw Kosiniak-Kamysz \u2013 Poland\u2019s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence \u2013 outlined that 11 additional aircraft will be delivered to \u0141ask over the coming months, with 12 more expected to follow in 2027. Deliveries of all 32 F-35As to Poland are expected to be completed by 2029, with the fleet split between the 32nd BLT in \u0141ask and the 21st BLT in \u015awidwin.<\/p>\n

Both bases are currently expanding their infrastructure \u2013 including the construction of new technical facilities and the installation of modern type-specific simulators \u2013 with Poland\u2019s F-35A force expected to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2030.<\/p>\n

From 32 to 64 jets: Warsaw eyes major F-35 fleet expansion<\/p>\n

During the induction ceremony on 12 June, Kosiniak-Kamysz revealed that Warsaw\u2019s classified Armed Forces Development Program \u2013 which was approved in December 2025 \u2013 includes funding plans for two additional F-35A squadrons, which will effectively double the size of the Polish Lightning II fleet. <\/p>\n

This document, which covers Poland\u2019s defence priorities and outlines how Warsaw intends to meet them by 2039, has remained largely classified since its signing at the end of last year.<\/p>\n

\"Image:Image: Polish MND via X (formerly Twitter)<\/p>\n

Speaking at the induction ceremony, Kosiniak-Kamysz said: \u201cThe program includes not only the 32 F-35A aircraft we are accepting into Polish service today, but also two more squadrons [of Lightning IIs].\u201d <\/p>\n

In Poland, a standard fighter squadron is assigned 16 jets, meaning that a further 32 F-35As are being sought by Warsaw to increase its overall fleet to 64 aircraft. Despite this pledge, however, no details were shared as to when these aircraft may be ordered or delivered.<\/p>\n

Featured Image: Poland\u2019s first three operational F-35As (serials 3509, 3510 and 3511) fly in formation with a PoAF-operated F-16C Block 52+ Fighting Falcon (serial 4057) during the national flypast conducted during the latter\u2019s induction ceremony on 12 June 2026. Image: Lockheed Martin\/Piotr Gubernatorial via Facebook<\/p>\n

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