Poland inducts first F-35 'Husarz' fighters in Łask ceremony, president calls it a 'historic day'
At the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, Poland inducted its first F-35A Lightning II jets on Friday, a milestone that President Karol Nawrocki described as a transformational leap for the country's armed forces.
Poland formally welcomed its first F-35A fifth-generation multirole fighters into the Polish Armed Forces during a ceremony at the Łask air base on 12 June 2026. The jets, produced by Lockheed Martin under a $4.6 billion contract signed in 2020, made a symbolic flyover of Westerplatte, Warsaw and Krakow before landing at their new home.
Speeches and strategic messaging
President Karol Nawrocki addressed the gathered officials, stating that the F-35 would make Poland "stronger, stronger, safer in the years to come" and calling the induction a historic, breakthrough leap for the Polish Armed Forces, particularly the Air Force. He underscored that a Polish pilot flying American-made equipment demonstrated the essential strategic partnership between Poland and the United States.
The Republic of Poland is and will be stronger, stronger, safer in the years to come. Before our eyes, a modern, breakthrough leap for the Polish Armed Forces is taking place – in this context, it is a historic day.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz framed the moment as a demonstration of Poland's role in continental security. He stressed continuity across successive governments and noted that the SAFE armaments programme had inspired other European states to follow suit. The minister also said Poland had invested approximately one billion złoty in the Łask base infrastructure to support the new fleet.
Poland is today the undisputed leader in building the security architecture in Europe. It is the leader of NATO's eastern flank.
Symbolic gestures and a light-hearted incident
During the ceremonies, Paulina Kosiniak-Kamysz, wife of the defence minister, and Captain Magdalena Boryc-Krakowian, widow of the late F-16 pilot Major Maciej "Slab" Krakowian, served as godmothers, officially naming the aircraft "Husarz". Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz paid an emotional tribute to Major Krakowian, who died in a 2025 training accident. Earlier, President Nawrocki prompted a public handshake between Kosiniak-Kamysz and former Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, who signed the original F-35 contract in 2020, in a moment that drew laughter from the audience.
A lighter moment occurred during TVP Info coverage when a presenter briefly mistook a flying bird for the approaching fighters, joking that everyone was already "oversensitive" from anticipation.
Advanced capabilities
Articles highlighted the aircraft's stealth design, its ability to function as an airborne command centre, and its capacity to carry long-range JASSM missiles and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. The F-35's sensor fusion and data-sharing systems are expected to transform Poland's multi-domain operational readiness.
Delivery timeline
- Poland signs $4.6 billion contract for 32 F-35A jets with Lockheed Martin
- First three F-35s arrive at Łask air base
- Official induction ceremony and naming 'Husarz' at Łask
- Fleet expected to reach 14 aircraft
- Further 12 deliveries bring total to 26
- All 32 aircraft delivered
The first three airframes arrived in May 2026. A further 11 are scheduled to arrive before the end of the year, bringing the total to 14 by December 2026, according to defence officials. Another 12 aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2027, with the full complement of 32 jets expected by the end of 2029.
