Poland's F-35 fleet faces operating costs up to €40,000 per flight hour

Poland is integrating 32 fifth‑generation F‑35 "Husarz" fighters into its air force, with the first three aircraft arriving at the Łask base in May 2026. The purchase contract, signed in January 2020, is valued at $4.6 billion and includes training and logistics packages. Beyond the acquisition price, the programme entails substantial recurring expenses. Official estimates indicate that one hour of flight in an F‑35 costs between 130,000 and 170,000 złoty (about €30,000‑€40,000), more than double the cost of operating an older F‑16, which is around 77,000 złoty per hour. These high operating costs stem from fuel consumption, specialized maintenance, spare parts and the need for continuous software updates. The expense represents a significant budgetary challenge for Poland as it seeks to maintain a credible deterrent on NATO's eastern flank and deepen interoperability with U.S. and other allied forces.

Poland's acquisition makes it the first eastern‑flank NATO member to field the F‑35, a move intended to strengthen its defensive posture following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, the steep per‑hour cost underscores the financial strain of operating cutting‑edge combat aircraft over the coming decades.