Lockheed Martin recently rolled out the first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet for the Polish Air Force.
An unveiling ceremony was held at a company facility in Texas, with Polish deputy national defense ministers Paweł Bejda and Cezary Tomczyk in attendance.
According to Lockheed, this “significant milestone” for Warsaw will further strengthen the alliance between the two NATO countries.
It will also boost the European nation’s ability to defend its borders amid the increased tensions in the region.
“I am proud to be part of history today, introducing the F-35 as the next generation, which will protect and defend Poland’s future for many years,” Polish Air Force official Major General Ireneusz Nowak said.
In 2019, Poland ordered 32 F-35 combat jets from the US in a $4.6 billion deal.
Witnessed a historic moment today on #PolishAviationDay! ✈️ The first #Poland‘s F-35A Lightning II, #Husarz, was unveiled at @LockheedMartin in Fort Worth. This 5th-gen fighter will revolutionize the #PolishArmy and strengthen #NATO. Proud to be part of this milestone! 🇵🇱🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/vk8bYvwsSy
— Andrzej Fafara (@AndrzejFafara) August 29, 2024
‘Powerful Force Multiplier’
A fifth-generation aircraft, the F-35A is the US Air Force’s replacement for the legacy F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt.
It features state-of-the-art sensors, tactical data links, and armaments that make it a “powerful force multiplier” for militaries worldwide.
According to Lockheed Martin official Greg Ulmer, the F-35 will be critical in ensuring that Warsaw is able to effectively deter and defeat threats to its national security.
Follow along with Poland’s first F-35 as it’s brought to life!
We’re one step closer to revealing Poland’s F-35A “Husarz”. How close? Next Wednesday, in fact. 👀 pic.twitter.com/lGND5XQMfe
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) August 23, 2024
Tomczyk also highlighted the important role the new warplanes will play, as Poland is the only country in the world with a common border with Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
“In order to keep these borders as they are, we need the best equipment, the best capabilities, and the best friends,” he said. “And as my American friends often say: ‘A true friend is the one who arrives when the rest of the world walks away.’”
Once delivered, Poland will become the first F-35 operator in Eastern Europe.
