Poland has received its first three F-35 fighter jets, but the full fleet of 32 aircraft is still years from completion. As of June 2026, Lockheed Martin has produced 13 of the 32 fifth-generation fighters ordered by Warsaw. The remaining deliveries are scheduled to conclude by 2029.
The first three F-35A Husarz multirole fighters landed at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask on May 22, 2026, marking the beginning of a historic modernization program for the Polish Air Force. The jets are part of a $4.6 billion contract signed in early 2020 – the second-largest arms deal in Poland’s history.
According to the Polish Ministry of Defence, the arrival of these aircraft is a milestone that elevates the country’s defensive capabilities and interoperability with NATO allies to an entirely new level. So far, Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant has rolled out 13 jets earmarked for Poland, with three already delivered to the country.
Delivery schedule and future plans
The remaining 19 F-35s will arrive in batches over the next three years. The Polish government has not disclosed a precise monthly timetable, but the overall plan envisions all 32 aircraft in service by the end of 2029. The first jets are being stationed at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, which will eventually house 16 fighters – half of the entire Polish F-35 fleet.
– The first F-35A Husarz aircraft are already at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask. Their arrival is a milestone in the modernization of the Polish Armed Forces and the most important stage in the implementation of fifth-generation jets into the Air Force. Husarz takes our defence capabilities and interoperability with NATO allies to an entirely new level. Poland is safer than ever before – wrote the Ministry of Defence on social media.
Strategic basing in Łask and Świdwin
The remaining 16 F-35s will be deployed at the 21st Tactical Air Base in Świdwin, located in the west of the country. This dual-basing strategy spreads Poland’s most advanced air assets across two key locations, reducing vulnerability to a single-point attack and ensuring rapid response capability. The choice of Świdwin also strengthens Poland’s air defence posture near the Baltic Sea.
The F-35A Husarz will replace the ageing Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-22 aircraft, which have been gradually phased out. Poland is also investing in supporting infrastructure, pilot training programmes, and maintenance facilities to ensure the long-term operational readiness of the fleet.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock/PeaksProductions
