Poland's F-35 jets officially enter service with ceremony in Łask

Poland received its first three Lockheed Martin F‑35 Lightning II fighters, dubbed “Husarz”, at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask. The hand‑over ceremony on 12 June was attended by President Karol Nawrocki, Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz, senior NATO and U.S. officials and other dignitaries. The jets performed a demonstration fly‑over of Gdańsk, Warsaw, Łódź and Kraków before returning to the base for formal acceptance into the Polish Air Force. Poland’s 2020 contract, worth USD 4.6 billion, calls for 32 fifth‑generation aircraft to be delivered by 2029, a move seen as bolstering the NATO eastern flank and enhancing national deterrence. The F‑35’s stealth design, advanced sensor suite and ability to carry a range of missiles such as AGM‑158 JASSM, AIM‑120 AMRAAM and AIM‑9X Sidewinder will markedly expand Poland’s air‑combat capabilities. In parallel, technologies pioneered for the fighter – head‑up displays, distributed‑aperture camera systems and night‑vision sensors – are being transferred to the automotive sector, appearing in modern car HUDs and 360‑degree vision packages. The event also generated political commentary, with Defence Minister Kosiniak‑Kamysz using the occasion to discuss broader government issues.