The roar of the engines of F-35 fighter jets echoed over several Polish cities after the first three jets delivered to Poland performed a ceremonial flyover over Gdansk, Warsaw, Krakow and Łódź, reported “Euronews“.
The Poles were thus able to see the most advanced fighter planes for the first time, which in the coming years should become one of the pillars of the country’s military aviation. The flyover took place before the official ceremony for the introduction of the aircraft into the composition of the Polish Armed Forces.
Today marks another historic chapter in the extraordinary 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… pic.twitter.com/6rYy6oh93X
— Ambassador Tom Rose (@USAmbPoland) June 12, 2026
“Welcome to Poland”
Three fifth-generation fighter jets, called “Hussars”, performed a ceremonial flyover over the largest Polish cities as part of the “Welcome to Poland” operation. In the morning, the planes took off from the base in Lask, so that the citizens could see the new equipment of the Polish army up close.
“This is the day we’ve been waiting for for years! Poland welcomes its F-35 Hussars today,” Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish announced on social media.
The first point on the route was Gdańsk, where the planes appeared over the historic Westerplatte peninsula around 9:45 am. Then they headed towards Warsaw and around 10:10 a.m. they flew over the Vistula, at the height of the Warsaw Citadel.
The next stop was Krakow, where at around 10:35 they could be seen over the Vistula, near Wawel Hill. The last city on the route was Łódź, where at around 11:05 a.m. the planes flew over the Lviv Airmen’s Roundabout, before returning to Lusk Airport.
The flyover caused great interest among citizens, and recordings and photos appeared on social networks almost immediately. The flight was not only symbolic, but also part of an exercise.
Technological revolution for Polish aviation
Fifth-generation F-35s are among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Thanks to stealth technology, enemy radars are much harder to detect. They are also equipped with a comprehensive suite of sensors that allows them to collect, analyze and relay information to other military units in the air, on land and at sea.
The aircraft can perform a wide range of combat missions. They are capable of carrying modern armaments, including AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, as well as long-range AGM-158 JASM missiles for engaging land targets.
According to military experts, the introduction of the F-35 represents a qualitative leap in the capabilities of the Polish armed forces and strengthens the potential of NATO’s eastern flank.
The F-35 has been produced by the US company Lockheed Martin since 2006 and is gradually becoming a key fighter aircraft of the North Atlantic Alliance. In Europe it is used by the air forces of the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
Poland is building a fleet of 32 aircraft
The first three F-35 aircraft arrived at Lusk in late May. The official handing over was attended by the highest state officials, including President Karol Nawrocki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish, President of the Senate Malgozata Kidava-Blonjska and representative of the US administration Thomas DiNana.
Former Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, who signed the purchase agreement in 2020, was also at the ceremony.
“This is a historic day for the Polish Armed Forces and for our security. Poland joins the elite club of countries using fifth-generation aircraft with unique combat capabilities,” President Karol Nawrocki wrote on social media.
“It is an achievement of numerous soldiers and civilians who worked on the procurement and introduction of the F-35 in the Polish Air Force. It is also the result of a strong, strategic alliance with the United States of America and another visible sign of friendship between our two countries, especially symbolic in the year when we mark the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States,” he added.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk also commented on the event. During the celebration of the Day of the State Protection Service in Warsaw, the head of the Polish government addressed the ceremony of introducing the F-35 into service.
“Today is a solemn moment in Lusk as well. There will be a training center there, a kind of school for the pilots of the most modern planes,” said the Prime Minister.
“The heroes of ‘Top Gun’ could envy our pilots,” he added.
Tusk also revealed that one of the pilots of the new Polish aircraft said that “compared to previous machines, the F-35 is like a Porsche next to a Fiat Tipo.”
Poland signed a contract in early 2020 for the purchase of 32 F-35 fighter jets, with a training package and additional engines. The value of the contract was 4.6 billion dollars, with the price of each plane being about 87 million dollars.
The Minister of Defense announced that 11 more planes will be delivered in the coming months, 12 more next year, and the remaining planes in the following years.
In total, Poland will have 32 F-35 aircraft, and all deliveries should be completed by 2029. The aircraft will be based at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Lusk and the 21st Tactical Air Base in Svidwin, where the infrastructure is currently being expanded. Polish F-35s are expected to reach full operational capability around 2030.
