Assembly of the First F-35A Fighter for Poland Completed by Lockheed Martin

The United States has assembled the first fifth-generation multirole F-35A Lightning II fighter jet for the Polish Air Force. The aircraft, with serial number AZ-01, rolled off the assembly line at Lockheed Martin’s Texas plant in late July 2024. The fighter is now in the final preparation phase, including the application of a special stealth coating and final painting. All work is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, with a presentation ceremony scheduled for August 28.

The Polish Air Force has officially named this fighter F-35A “Husarz,” in reference to the famous Polish hussars. Production of this first aircraft began in April 2023 in Georgia, where Mateusz Morawiecki inspected the start of construction.

Under an agreement signed in January 2020, Poland will receive 32 F-35As in the Block 4 version with the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) package, marking the most significant evolution of the F-35’s capabilities to date. The first six aircraft are to be built between 2024 and 2025, with deliveries continuing until 2030. Initially, the aircraft will be based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Polish pilots will be trained. The first Polish F-35A Husarz is expected to arrive in Poland at the Lask air base in 2026.

This contract, worth $4.6 billion, includes training for 24 pilots and 90 ground personnel. In 2021, Poland began the process of training its future pilots for this fifth-generation multifunctional fighter.

On August 2, 2024, Lockheed Martin released a video showing the AZ-01 aircraft being transferred to the final finishing facility at its Fort Worth plant in Texas, before receiving its stealth coating. “Poland’s first F-35 is on the move!” the company said on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Once officially handed over to the Polish Ministry of National Defence, AZ-01 will be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for pilot training. Poland recently decided that its F-35As will bear discreet grey checkerboard markings instead of the traditional red and white checkerboard, a first for the Polish Armed Forces, to fully preserve the aircraft’s stealth characteristics.

As part of its F-35A acquisition plans, Poland is also assessing the market for an unmanned “loyal wingman” adjunct for this type of aircraft. This initiative was mentioned as early as 2020, shortly after the F-35 purchase contract was signed, with an intention to develop advanced Harpi Szpon drone systems to operate in coordination with the F-35s.

The F-35A is a single-engine fifth-generation multirole fighter developed by Lockheed Martin, designed to perform various missions, including air superiority, ground attacks, and reconnaissance. The aircraft is equipped with advanced stealth technologies, sophisticated avionics systems, and a suite of armaments including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as an internal 25 mm cannon for close engagements.

The F-35A’s dimensions include a length of approximately 15.7 meters, a wingspan of about 10.7 meters, and a height of around 4.4 meters, contributing to its aerodynamic efficiency and stealth capabilities. The propulsion system is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan engine, offering a maximum thrust of about 43,000 pounds, allowing the aircraft to reach speeds of up to Mach 1.6.

The technical characteristics of the F-35A include advanced stealth technology, a fly-by-wire control system, and an avionics suite featuring the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, the 360-degree coverage DAS detection and tracking system, and the EOTS targeting system. These features enhance the pilot’s decision-making and situational awareness.

The F-35A has an operational range of approximately 2,220 kilometers without external fuel tanks, extendable through aerial refueling, making the aircraft versatile and effective for modern air combat.

The imminent delivery of the first F-35A to Poland marks an important milestone in the modernization of Polish defense and strengthens military and political ties between Poland and the United States.