First F-35 Fighter Jets Delivered to Poland’s Air Force

The first F-35 fighter jets destined for the Polish Air Force have departed from the United States to Poland.

Photos of the aircraft were published by the Polish military photography project Z Obiektywem Obok Munduru.

The three jets took off on May 20 from an air base near Fort Worth.

The Lockheed Martin factory is located there, where advanced military aircraft, including F-35 fighter jets, are developed and assembled.

Until they are officially transferred to Poland, these F-35s legally remain U.S. aircraft, meaning only American pilots are authorized to operate them.

The aircraft are being ferried with the Polish insignia, the red-and-white checkerboard, covered.

Poland signed a contract to purchase 32 F-35 fighter jets in 2020, while serial production of the aircraft for the Polish Air Force began in 2023.

The arrival of the aircraft in Poland this evening will mark the next stage in the integration of the F-35 Lightning II into the country’s Air Force.

The final destination for the American-made aircraft will be the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask. This is where Poland’s first fifth-generation fighter jets will be stationed.

The second operating location will be the 21st Tactical Air Base in Świdwin, which recently underwent modernization following the retirement of Su-22 aircraft and is expected to receive FA-50PL fighter jets in the future.

Both bases are being adapted to support fifth-generation aircraft, requiring major investments in infrastructure, security systems, and technical support facilities. Modernization work has already been completed in Łask, while work in Świdwin is expected to continue until early 2027, according to Defence24.

In the United States, Polish pilots and technical personnel have already been undergoing training and gaining operational experience with these aircraft for an extended period.