The U.S. defense contractor shared a video on social media showing the jet progressing through its production line in Fort Worth, Texas, and announced that the aircraft will be officially unveiled on Wednesday.
The F-35A "Husarz" is set to leave the production plant in August, in line with the initial schedule. However, the first batch of six jets will not be delivered to Poland immediately. Instead, they will be sent to the Ebbing Air National Guard base in Arkansas, where Polish pilots will undergo training.
The jets are slated to arrive in Poland by 2026, with the full order to be completed by 2030.
The F-35 acquisition is part of a broader modernization effort by the Polish military, which includes American-made Patriot missile defense systems and HIMARS rocket artillery, both platforms widely used by NATO allies. The contract for 32 F-35 fighters was signed in 2020 by then-Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, marking a significant upgrade for the Polish Air Force.
The name "Husarz" was chosen through a public competition organized by the General Staff of the Polish Army. It is a reference to the Polish hussars, a revered heavy cavalry formation active from the 16th to 18th centuries. The hussars, known for their iconic winged armor, were regarded as an elite force in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
(jh)
Source: next.gazeta.pl
