Poland receives first F-35 fighter jets, becoming first Eastern NATO member with fifth‑generation aircraft

Poland received its first three Lockheed Martin F‑35A Lightning II fighters at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask on 22 May 2026, marking the first Eastern NATO member to operate fifth‑generation aircraft. The jets, designated 3509‑3511 and nicknamed “Husarz”, arrived from the Lockheed plant in Fort Worth, Texas after a stop in the Azores and were escorted by a pair of Polish F‑16s and a U.S. KC‑46A tanker.

The delivery completes part of a 32‑aircraft order worth $4.6 billion, with the fleet to be split between Łask and the 21st Tactical Air Base in Świdwin. Infrastructure upgrades at Łask costing 2.5 billion zlotys were finished in late 2025 and the base earned U.S. accreditation for technical support. Full operational readiness of the first squadron is expected in 2027.

The acquisition also includes AIM‑9X, AIM‑120D and AGM‑158B missiles, enhancing Poland’s deterrent against regional threats and solidifying its role within NATO’s eastern flank.