The ceremony took place at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, central Poland, where the first three US-made F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrived last month.
The jets, which Poland has named Husarz (Hussar), were officially incorporated into the country's air force during the event.
'Strategic partnership'
Speaking at the ceremony, President Karol Nawrocki said the fifth-generation multi-role fighter jets would strengthen Poland's operational capabilities and enhance national security.
"Poland is and will be stronger and safer in the years ahead thanks to the F-35 aircraft," he said, describing their induction as a "historic day" and a breakthrough for the Polish Air Force.
The president said the stealth aircraft, manufactured by US defence contractor Lockheed Martin, would allow Poland to conduct long-range, precision operations while improving its ability to operate across multiple military domains.
Nawrocki also emphasised the importance of military cooperation with the United States, saying the F-35 programme demonstrated "the value of the strategic partnership" between the two countries.
"The strategic relationship and partnership between Poland and the United States are today very much needed by both nations," he said.
Photo: PAP/Marian Zubrzycki
'Day of pride'
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the event as "a day of pride" for the Polish armed forces and said it reflected continuity in Poland's long-term efforts to strengthen national defence regardless of political changes.
"Governments change, presidents change, generations change; what matters most is maintaining continuity, stability and building the strength of the country," he said.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland was leading the way in shaping Europe's security architecture and NATO's eastern flank.
He added that the F-35s would play a key role alongside the AH-64E Apache attack helicopters Poland has acquired from the United States, creating a more integrated and capable force.
"The philosophy of a modern military is to connect different systems and capabilities," Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
"The F-35 and Apache together strengthen both our defence potential and our ability to deter adversaries," he added.
Poland currently has three F-35s in the country, while additional aircraft are already entering service in the United States ahead of delivery, Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.
Eleven more are expected to arrive in Łask in the coming months, followed by another 12 next year, eventually bringing Poland's F-35 fleet to 32 aircraft.
'Model ally'
Also attending the ceremony was Thomas DiNanno, US under secretary of state for arms control and international security, who described Poland as a "model ally" of the United States.
DiNanno said that the F-35 acquisition--under a USD 4.6 billion deal signed in 2020--underscored the strength of the Polish-American partnership and demonstrated the allies' readiness to defend NATO territory.
"These aircraft show that Poland and the United States are prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory," he said, as cited by Polish state news agency PAP.
Tom Rose, the US ambassador to Warsaw, wrote on X that Friday's ceremony marked a new chapter in the history of the Polish Air Force.
"From the legendary Polish pilots who fought for freedom in the skies over Europe to the world-class airmen serving today, Poland has built a tradition of courage, excellence, and leadership that is respected throughout NATO," he said.
He called the F-35s "a powerful symbol of Poland’s growing strength, its commitment to collective defense, and the enduring partnership between the United States and Poland."
Before the ceremony, the three aircraft conducted a symbolic flight over several Polish landmarks, including the millennium-old Wawel Castle in the southern city of Kraków, the Westerplatte peninsula in the Baltic port city of Gdańsk and the Vistula River in the capital Warsaw, in what the military described as a "Greeting Poland" flyover.
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Source: TVP Info, IAR, PAP