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Poland's new F-35 fighter jets to make nationwide flyover

08.06.2026 00:05
Poland's first F-35 fighter jets will conduct a nationwide flyover on June 12, passing over several major cities in a symbolic tour aimed at showcasing the country's newest military aircraft, Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk has said.
A Polish Air Force F-35 fighter jet.
A Polish Air Force F-35 fighter jet.Photo: PAP/Marian Zubrzycki

The event, dubbed "Greeting Poland," will see the aircraft take off from the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, central Poland, and fly over the southern city of Kraków, the Baltic port city of Gdańsk and the capital Warsaw before returning to base.

According to Tomczyk, the jets will fly at lower altitudes over selected landmarks, including Kraków's Wawel Castle, Gdańsk's Westerplatte peninsula and the Vistula River in Warsaw, allowing the public to view what he described as Poland's most advanced military equipment.

"Polish taxpayers paid for these aircraft and support significant spending on national defence," Tomczyk told broadcaster TVN24 on Sunday. "This is a way of thanking them and showing them how their money is being invested."

Three F-35 multirole fighter jets arrived at the Łask base in late May, marking the first delivery of the fifth-generation aircraft to Poland. The jets are manufactured by US defence contractor Lockheed Martin.

Poland signed a USD 4.6 billion contract in 2020 to purchase 32 F-35 aircraft, designated Husarz in Polish service. The deal was the country's second-largest arms procurement contract, according to the General Staff of the Polish Armed Force.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said when the aircraft arrived that the F-35s would significantly enhance Poland's military capabilities and symbolised strong transatlantic ties.

Although the Polish Air Force has already received eight F-35s, those aircraft until now remained in the United States for pilot, instructor and technician training. Future deliveries are expected to go directly to Poland.

Officials said 14 aircraft are scheduled to be in Poland by the end of this year, with another 12 due by the end of 2027. Delivery of all 32 aircraft is expected to be completed by 2029.

The F-35 is one of NATO’s most advanced combat aircraft and is designed with stealth technology that reduces radar detection.

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Source: IAR, PAP, TVN24