Five more F-35s set to land in Poland this week, bringing fleet to eight

Poland’s air force will grow by five F-35 fighter jets on Friday, defense officials said, as the country presses Washington to keep deliveries of the American-made stealth aircraft on schedule.

An F-35 fighter jet.Alexander Cook/CC0

Deputy Defense Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said the jets will land at the 32nd Tactical Air Base without fanfare. „I’m glad that the F-35 agreement is being well implemented. We need this equipment very much today”, she told private broadcaster TVN24, adding that timely arms deliveries have been a frequent topic in her talks with U.S. counterparts.

Friday’s arrivals will double Poland’s F-35 fleet to eight, following the delivery of the first three jets in late May. The Lockheed Martin-built aircraft are part of a USD 4.6 billion (EUR 4 billion) order for 32 fifth-generation jets, with deliveries slated to wrap up by 2029. Two squadrons will eventually be split between bases in Łask and Świdwin, in the West Pomerania region.

Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who confirmed the incoming shipment Wednesday, said the aircraft — marked with Poland’s checkerboard air force insignia — would bolster not just national air defenses but the broader security architecture Poland shares with its allies.

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Source: PAP

Radio Poland