Photo, credit: Gherardo Fontana (@gfontana767)
Poland’s first F-35A fighter jet, designated Husarz AZ-02, completed its maiden test flight from Lockheed Martin’s facility. The flight lasted just over an hour and was accompanied by another F-35A, AF-427 (c/n 5727), marked with the insignia of the 187th Fighter Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard.
This initial test flight took place just over three months after the jet’s handover ceremony to the Polish government. On August 28, 2024, Poland’s first F-35A, designated AZ-01, was officially unveiled during a rollout ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s plant in Texas.
During the rollout, it was noted that the Polish Air Force’s F-35A does not feature the traditional white-and-red checkered emblem. Instead, it has been given a low-visibility version of the insignia. This is a noteworthy change, as historically, all Polish Air Force aircraft, including the Su-22 and MiG-29, displayed the white-and-red emblem—even after being repainted in new, entirely gray camouflage schemes.
Following their official handover to the Polish Air Force, the initial F-35A jets will first be stationed at a National Guard base in Arkansas for pilot training. The first aircraft are expected to arrive in Poland around 2026, with the remaining jets scheduled for delivery by 2030.
On September 11, 2019, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 32 fifth-generation F-35A fighters to Poland at a total cost of $6.5 billion. Poland selected the F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take-Off and Landing) variant to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-22s. The purchase agreement was finalized in January of the following year.
In addition to the aircraft, Poland has also procured various weapon systems for the F-35, including AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and “several hundred” AGM-158B JASSM-ER cruise missiles. Furthermore, the U.S. State Department and Congress have approved additional purchases, such as AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder missiles and AARGM-ER anti-radiation missiles. Poland’s F-35 fleet is expected to be based at the Łask Air Base.
After the acquisition of the F-35 fighters, the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces announced a public contest to name the new aircraft. Citizens submitted their proposals via a post on the official social media profile of the General Staff, with voting held from April 12 to April 18, 2024. Following the vote, Poland’s F-35 was officially named Husarz (Polish for hussar or a type of dragonfly). It is worth noting that, until now, Polish military aircraft were often named after birds of prey.
Source: theaviationist
