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Lockheed Martin’s first F-35A Lightning II was presented to the Polish government during a rollout ceremony Wednesday morning at the Air Force Plant 4 production facility in Fort Worth. It is one of 32 F-35As that Lockheed Martin will deliver to the Polish Air Force. (Courtesy photo | Lockheed Martin)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Lockheed_Martin_Poland_F_35-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Lockheed_Martin_Poland_F_35-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>A Fort Worth-assembled stealth fighter jet will have a thunderous impact on NATO ally Poland’s national defense, officials said.Lockheed Martin’s first F-35A Lightning II was presented to the Polish government during a rollout ceremony involving senior government and military leaders Wednesday morning at the Air Force Plant 4 production facility in Fort Worth.The Poland F-35s — named “Husarz” in homage to a cavalry unit — will increase military situational awareness for Poland and its European partners, including others in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is one of 32 F-35As that Lockheed Martin will deliver to the Polish Air Force as part of a $4.6 billion contract signed on Jan. 31, 2020.“Over more than 100 years of the Polish Air Force, there have been many generations of pilots and aircraft. I am proud to be part of history today, introducing the F-35 as the next generation, which will protect and defend Poland’s future for many years,” Maj. Gen. Ireneusz Nowak, inspector of the Polish Air Force, said in a statement. “We are joining a strong coalition of fifth-generation fighters across Europe, bolstering air superiority through allied deterrence.”Lockheed Martin’s F-35 will extend Poland’s leadership in the organization through investment in military modernization and enhanced participation in foreign missions, the company said.“As the NATO aircraft of choice, the F-35 is a powerful force multiplier and critical to deterring and defeating threats for Poland and its allies,” said Greg Ulmer, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “We are honored to strengthen our enduring partnership with Poland through today’s celebration, ensuring Polish national security and long-term capability development for decades to come.” Lockheed Martin will deliver the first aircraft, designated AZ-01, in December. The aircraft will be based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where Poland’s F-35 pilots will be trained.The company has delivered more than 1,000 F-35s and trained more than 2,540 pilots and 16,690 maintainers. The jets operate from 32 bases worldwide.“Lockheed Martin continues to work side by side with F-35 operators to ensure allies remain ahead of the evolving threat,” the company said in its news release.The contract calls for four to six aircraft to be delivered each year between 2024 and 2030. The deliveries may be affected by upgrades in the F-35’s Tech Refresh 3 software.Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last year that Poland’s F-35s could possibly be armed with B61-12 thermonuclear bombs as a future deterrent as the Russian-Ukrainian war continues more than two years.The F-35 fabrication began with a partial wing assembly at Lockheed Martin’s assembly line in Marietta, Georgia. Final assembly is conducted at the Fort Worth plant operated by Lockheed Martin.Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.