Poland prepares to receive first F-35

A screenshot from a Lockheed Martin video released on 2 August, showing the first of Poland's 32 F-35A in the final stage of assembly before delivery. (Lockheed Martin)

Poland is preparing to receive the first of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft, with deliveries to commence later in August.

Lockheed Martin released a video on 2 August showing aircraft AZ-01 being transferred to the final finish facility at its Fort Worth production plant in Texas, ahead of receiving its low-observable (LO) ‘stealth' paint and coating.

“Poland's first F-35 is on the move!” the company said on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Once formally handed over to the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND), AZ-01 will be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for pilot training.

Poland signed a contract with the United States government for 32 F-35As in January 2020, with deliveries to run from 2024 to 2030 as the country phases out its Warsaw Pact-era MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum' fighters.

The MND recently assigned the name Husarz to the F-35A in national service, which translates in English to Hussar. The MND also said that the country's F-35As will receive low-visibility greyed-out checkerboard markings in place of the traditional red and white checkerboard. This will be a first for the Polish Armed Forces and has been decided to fully preserve the aircraft's low observability characteristics.

As part of its F-35A procurement plans, Poland is assessing the market for an unmanned ‘loyal wingman' adjunct for the type.