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F-35 – Coming Soon to an Air Base Near Russia: Poland’s first F-35A stealth fighter, locally named “Husarz” to honor the country’s famed winged hussars, has completed its maiden flight.

-This marks a milestone for the Polish Air Force, which plans to operate 32 F-35As purchased in 2020 for $4.6 billion.

-The initial aircraft, tail number AZ-02, will undergo flight trials before moving to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for pilot training.

-Deliveries to Poland are set to begin in 2026, with full fleet arrival by 2030.

-The F-35s will replace Poland’s aging MiG-29 fighters, strengthening NATO’s airpower on its eastern flank alongside similar procurements by Czechia and Romania.

Charge of the Husarz – Poland’s First F-35 Took its Maiden Flight

The era of the Husarz – Polish for “Hussar” – has arrived this week, as the Lockheed Martin F-35A factory number AZ-02 c/n 3502 completed its maiden flight from the aerospace firm’s facility to NAS Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. While the flight lasted just an hour, it marked the true beginning for the Polish Air Force’s fleet of fifth-generation stealth aircraft.

The NATO member has a program of record that calls for it to operate thirty-two F-35A, which Warsaw purchased in 2020 for a reported $4.6 billion. The F-35As, the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, will be locally designated the “Husarz” to honor the nation’s infamous “Winged Hussars.” The elite cavalry units took part in numerous engagements and helped Poland and her allies win more than 16 major battles during the commonwealth’s “Golden Age” during the 16th and 17th centuries when it took part in conflicts with Ottoman and Russian forces.

The name was chosen following a public competition and was meant to reflect the deep connection to Poland’s military heritage.

Warsaw has long had a tradition of giving domestic names to its warplanes, even those manufactured abroad. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is in service with the Polish Air Force as the Jastrz b (Falcon).

This isn’t the first time that the F-35 has been domestically “rebranded.” The Israel Air Force’s (IAF’s) modified Lightning IIs are in service as the F-35I Adir (The Mighty), while the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) designated their F-35s the Lightning.

Ready for The Next Phase

Warsaw’s first F-35A was officially accepted by the Polish Ministry of National Defense (MND) at a ceremony in August at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility, and will next begin flight trails. Following the completion of those tests, tail number 3502 – along with 3501 (AZ-01) – will head to Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas for pilot training. The first Polish aviators are expected t o begin training on the multirole stealth fighter next month.

A New Era for the Polish Air Force

The first F-35A Husarz aircraft are expected to arrive in the Eastern European nation and key NATO ally in 2026. Deliveries of Poland’s nearly three-dozen F-35s will continue through 2030, as Warsaw will phase out its Cold War-era Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) fighters. In July, it was reported that Warsaw could send the remaining MiG-29s to Ukraine – but that would only happen as the Husarz fighters arrive.

Poland will establish a unit to operate the F-35 at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Lask, in the central part of the country. It will later do the same at the 21st Tactical Air Base in Swidwin, in the country’s northwest. It won’t be the only NATO members that will be operating the F-35 by the early 2030s, as the Czech Republic (Czechia) and Romania have also committed to acquiring the Lightning II – which could significantly bolster the military alliance’s airpower on its eastern flank.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.