Lockheed unveils Polish F-35 “Husarz”

The F-35 stealth combat aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin for Poland has been unveiled at the US defence giant’s aeronautics headquarters in Texas, at a ceremony attended by Polish and US officials.

The Polish version of the aircraft has been named “Husarz” in reference to Poland’s famous “Winged Hussar” heavy cavalry units that operated from the 16th to the 18th century.

“The Hussars’ renowned speed, precision and tactical innovations on horseback enabled them to defend their homeland,” said Lockheed at the unveiling of the planes. “Polish warriors will soon employ those same qualities with a faster animal: the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jet.”

Here comes the cavalry. 🐎

Introducing Poland’s first F-35A “Husarz”, honoring the legendary Winged Hussars cavalry. pic.twitter.com/IwYBwdIygs

— Lockheed Martin Europe (@LMEuropeNews) August 28, 2024

“Poland is the only country in the world that shares borders with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine,” declared Polish deputy defence minister Cezary Tomczyk at today’s ceremony. “To keep the borders intact, we need the best equipment, the best capabilities, and the best friends.”

“The F-35 is the best fighter plane in the world, and…we are very proud that Poland is becoming part of the elite and joining the great F-35 family,” he added, thanking the US government and Congress for their support in making the deal happen.

US congressman Marc Veasey, who represents Texas’s 33rd district, said that supporting eastern NATO allies in this way can help stop Russia’s war in Ukraine from “spreading throughout the rest of Europe”, reports the Breaking Defense news website.

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Poland ordered 32 F-35A aircraft in 2020 under the former Law and Justice (PiS) government, in a deal worth around $4.6 billion (which also includes training, simulators and logistical support).

Though the first F-35s are being handed over to Poland this year, they will initially only be used for training Polish personnel in the US, notes Defence24, a Polish industry news service.

By 2026, the first of the aircraft will arrive in Poland, with the remainder to be delivered by 2030. It is anticipated that the planes will reach initial operational readiness in 2028.

Wielka chwila dla polskich sił powietrznych i całego Wojska 🇵🇱. Dziś, w Święto Lotnictwa Polskiego, został oficjalnie zaprezentowany pierwszy samolot F-35 dla Polski! Budujemy nowe zdolności naszych sił zbrojnych w oparciu o najnowocześniejszy na świecie sprzęt. To gwarancja… pic.twitter.com/PeqF4PunMX

— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) August 28, 2024

Among the countries that already operate F-35s, other than the US itself, are Japan, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. Among fellow eastern NATO member states, the Czech Republic and Romania are also planning to purchase and operate the aircraft.

“[This] is another milestone in the transformation of the Polish armed forces,” declared Polish deputy defence minister Paweł Bejda at today’s ceremony in Texas. The government today announced that Poland’s defence spending, already at the highest relative level in NATO, would rise further to 4.7% of GDP next year.

The rollout of the first Polish F-35s was also welcomed by Mariusz Błaszczak, who signed the initial agreement for the deal while serving as defence minister in the former PiS government.

However, he also noted that some figures from the current ruling coalition, which replaced PiS in December 2023, had previously criticised the purchase of the F-35s as too expensive. He warned that the government cannot be trusted to take proper care of Poland’s armed forces.

Koalicja 13 grudnia właśnie odbiera F-35. Spodziewałem się tego, że nie wspomną dzięki czyim rządom będziemy mieli te najnowocześniejsze samoloty. Honor i poczucie ludzkiej przyzwoitości to dla nich obce przymioty. Ale niespodzianką jest, że są tak zachwyceni tymi maszynami.… pic.twitter.com/wN88tjopFK

— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) August 28, 2024

Main image credit: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (press materials)

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.