Polish F-35A training at Fort Smith

The Sily Powietrzne RP (Polish Air Force) will be the first air force to train their F-35A Lightning II pilots at Ebbing Air National Guard Base at Fort Smith (AR).

The first aircraft are expected to arrive in 2024. The USAF will also build a F-35 simulator centre at the base.

On 31 january 2020, the Polish government signed the contract for the procurement of 32 F-35A Lightning II Block 4 fighter aircraft. With the selection of the F-35A, Poland becomes the 14th nation and 10th NATO country to join the F-35 programme of record.

The first batch of eight aircraft will be delivered in 2024-2025 and was originally intended to be based at Luke AFB (AZ), but this has now been changed to Fort Smith. The second batch will be delivered to Poland in 2026-2027.

On 12 February 2021, Scramble Magazine reported that Łask / 32. Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego (32.BLT, 32nd Tactical Air Base) will be the homebase for first Lightning II squadron. A second squadron will likely be based at Swidwin / 21. Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego (21.BLT, 21st Tactical Air Base). Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the squadron at Lask is planned for 2026. Full Operational Capability (FOC) for this unit is expected by 2030.

In June 2021 the USAF selected Fort Smith as the preferred location for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-35B Lightning II training detachment. The RSAF will also relocate their Lockheed Martin F-16C/D detachment from the 425th Fighter Squadron Black Widows at Luke AFB (AZ) to Fort Smith. Next to the Polish Air Force and RSAF, Fort Smith will also train future Luftwaffe (GAF, German Air Force) air crew.

Image by Lockheed Martin