First Polish Air Force F-35A takes shape
Late April 2024, the first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II for the Siły Powietrzne RP (Polish Air Force), designated AZ-01, was set with weight on its wheels for the first time at Lockheed Martin’s mile-long assembly plant in Fort Worth (TX): a significant milestone for the fighter aircraft as it moves down the production line to the final assembly line, where its control surfaces will be added, along with final systems and engine installation.
According to Lockheed Martin officials its is expected that the first F-35As for Poland are to leave the production plant in the coming months, a timeline unaffected by the company’s problems with a major upgrade for the aircraft known as Technology Refresh 3, or TR-3.
The envisioned timing aligns with Polish pilot training, set to begin at Ebbing Air National Guard Base at Fort Smith (AR) later this year. Polish Airmen will also be trained at Eglin AFB (FL), but most probably this only concerns maintainers.
Poland signed a contract for 32 F-35A Lightning II Block 4 fighter aircraft on 31 January 2020. The first batch of eight aircraft will be delivered in 2024-2025 and will be based at Ebbing ANG Base to train 24 pilots and 90 maintainers. The second batch will be delivered to Poland in 2026-2027, with Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the squadron at Lask in 2026. Full Operational Capability (FOC) for this unit is expected by 2030. In September 2021, it was revealed that a second Polish Air Force F-35A squadron will likely be based at Swidwin / 21. Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego (21.BLT, 21st Tactical Air Base). From the 32 aircraft ordered, 16 will be assembled at Fort Worth and 16 with the Leonardo Aircraft Divison at the Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) Cameri (Italy).
On 29 April 2024, the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces announced that, following its organisation of an online vote to determine a national name for the F-35A, the vote had concluded. “Dear aviation enthusiasts,” the Polish General Staff announced on Twitter, “we are very happy to announce that our Polish F-35 fighter now has an official name: Husarz.” "Husarz" in Polish means ‘Hussar’, referring to a member of a class of heavy cavalry that was first formed in the Kingdom of Poland at the beginning of the 16th century.
Credit photo: Lockheed Martin