Poland becomes first NATO Eastern‑flank nation to receive F‑35 fighter jets

Poland officially took delivery of its first three F‑35 Lightning II fighters at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, with the President, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister in attendance. The ceremony marked Poland as the first country on NATO’s eastern flank to operate the fifth‑generation aircraft, part of a total order for 32 jets worth about $4.6 billion, to be delivered between 2026 and 2030.

Two of the jets conducted a display flight that overflew the Baltic port city of Gdańsk, Warsaw and Kraków, accompanied by F‑16s. The event was also used to announce a new U.S. security‑financing package: a $4 billion credit line for the Polish defence programme, bringing the total U.S. credit to $20 billion. Poland expects to receive an additional 11 jets by year‑end, with the full fleet scheduled for completion by 2029.