Poland’s F‑35 jets spark naming dispute and boost public confidence in defence policy

Poland received the first three F‑35A fighters, now based at the Łask airfield, as part of a $4.6 billion contract for 32 aircraft. The Ministry of Defence named the jets “Husarz” after an online poll, but pilots overwhelmingly use the nickname “Pantera”, a disparity described by a defence expert as “like a punch in the nose”.

A poll of readers conducted after the delivery showed 77 % approving the government’s defence actions, with 18 % expressing criticism. The survey coincided with ongoing modernisation efforts, including the “Shield East” programme that aims to fortify roughly 260 km of Poland’s eastern frontier with anti‑tank ditches, barriers and logistics infrastructure. In May 2026, a U.S. delegation visited the Shield East sites in Podlasie to discuss logistics, infrastructure and NATO‑flank security.