The event was attended by Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Senior officials from the Ministry of National Defence, commanders of the Polish Armed Forces, U.S. and allied representatives, and industry partners also took part.
To mark the occasion, two F-35 aircraft flew over Poland before noon with an escort of two F-16 fighters. The aircraft appeared over Westerplatte, then followed the Vistula River towards Warsaw and later Kraków.
Lockheed Martin said the arrival of the aircraft was a major milestone in the modernisation of the Polish Air Force. The company also described it as a key step in Poland’s transition to fifth-generation airpower.
“The arrival of the first F-35 combat aircraft in Poland represents an important milestone for the nation’s defense and for regional security across Europe,” said OJ Sanchez, President, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “Poland continues to demonstrate strong leadership within NATO through its commitment to modernization and interoperability with allied forces.”
“This milestone reinforces our enduring partnership, and we remain committed to standing alongside Polish forces as they expand and fully operationalize the F-35’s 5th Generation capability,” Sanchez said.
During the event, the defence minister said 11 more F-35s should arrive in Poland in the coming months. They will join the three aircraft already in the country.
A further 12 aircraft are expected to arrive in 2027. Deliveries of all 32 F-35s are expected to be completed by 2030.
The ceremony also included the symbolic naming of Poland’s F-35 aircraft as Husarz. The aircraft’s godmothers were Paulina Kosiniak-Kamysz, wife of the defence minister, and Capt. Magdalena Boryc-Krakowian, wife of Lt. Col. Maciej Krakowian, who died last year in an F-16 crash.
Lockheed Martin said the F-35 Husarz fleet will strengthen Poland’s ability to operate with allied forces. The company said the aircraft will also support NATO’s defence posture on the eastern flank.
The company said the aircraft’s advanced sensor fusion enables integrated operations across domains in contested environments. Poland now joins a growing group of European allies operating the F-35 from home soil.
Lockheed Martin said the programme also supports industrial cooperation and high-technology manufacturing across Europe. This includes long-standing collaboration with Polish industry and suppliers.
The F-35 is operated or selected by 20 allied nations, according to Lockheed Martin. The company said the global fleet numbers more than 1,330 aircraft, with about 25 percent of production value sourced from European suppliers.
