Poland takes possession of the first multi-purpose plane F-35. The official presentation of the first machine, which rolled off the production line, took place at Lockheed Martin headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. – This is another milestone in the transformation Armed Forces Republic of Poland – Deputy Minister of Defense Paweł Bejda spoke during the ceremony. Apart from him, Cezary Tomczyk took part in the ceremony.
F-35s may change the face of the Polish army
The Ministry of National Defense argues that the purchase of 32 aircraft is part of the transformation of the Polish army. The contract for the delivery of fifth-generation F-35 fighters under the Harpia program was signed by Mariusz Błaszczak, who was the Minister of Defense in 2020.
“It will be transformed into a modern, well-equipped, trained and commanded armywhich together with allies will ensure the security of our Homeland. I have no doubt that this event is taking place at a key moment, because the security situation in the world has changed drastically since the Russian aggression against Ukraine. We all must be ready to defend NATO borders,” reads the MON's post.
The F-35 was created as part of a joint strike fighter program for all branches of the US armed forces, launched in 1993. The aircraft was designed for air combat, attacking ground targets and reconnaissance tasks. The shape of the aircraft and coatings that absorb radar radiation provide it with reduced detectability. They are distinguished by their interoperability, cooperating with, among others, PATRIOT systems and F-16 fighters, which the Polish Army has in its equipment.
“We can be proud”
The official presentation was full of pathos. Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda emphasized that thanks to the F-35 aircraft, the Polish armed forces are becoming part of the elite that increases defense capabilities in this part of Europe. Thanks to the purchase of the F-35 aircraft, Poland will join the narrow, elite group of countries that have these machines.
– We can be proud that our F-35s, Polish F-35s will be part of them. Poland will receive 32 F-35 aircraft, which, combined with our F-16s, will strengthen our ability to protect the eastern border Poland and NATO's eastern flank. Our task is to build a larger and more advanced air fleet that will meet new challenges – said the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense. The Polish multi-role F-35 will bear the name Husarz, which was selected in a nationwide competition.
The aircraft presented in Fort Worth will first be transferred to the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Polish pilots will train. According to the plans, the first aircraft are to reach Poland in 2026, and deliveries will last until 2030. The value of the contract for the aircraft is 4 billion 600 million dollars.