Poland has taken a major step toward integrating fifth-generation airpower into its front-line forces with the activation of the “Husarz” flight at Krzesiny Air Base. This milestone marks the first formal operational unit within the Polish Air Force dedicated to the F-35A Lightning II multirole stealth fighter. With deliveries accelerating and personnel training intensifying in the U.S., Poland is positioning itself as a key regional hub for advanced NATO airpower.
Husarz Flight Activation Marks Operational Transition
The establishment of the “Husarz” flight at Krzesiny Air Base represents a significant shift from acquisition to operational integration of Poland’s F-35A fleet. Officially activated in late September 2025 under the 32nd Tactical Air Base (TAB), which is headquartered at Łask but operates detachments at Krzesiny and other bases, this new unit will serve as the nucleus of Poland’s future fifth-generation fighter capability.
The name “Husarz” pays homage to the legendary Polish Winged Hussars—elite cavalry known for their shock tactics and battlefield dominance. The symbolic naming underscores Warsaw’s ambition to field a cutting-edge force capable of rapid response and high survivability in contested environments.
Initially composed of pilots and ground crews undergoing training in the United States under Lockheed Martin and U.S. Air Force instruction programs, Husarz Flight will transition into an operational squadron once sufficient aircraft are delivered and personnel return home. The unit is expected to reach initial operating capability (IOC) by 2026–2027.
Fleet Expansion on Track: 32 Aircraft Ordered
Poland signed a $4.6 billion Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the United States in January 2020 for 32 F-35A Block 4 aircraft under Lot 16–17 production batches. Deliveries began in mid-2024 with initial aircraft sent directly to Luke AFB in Arizona for pilot training missions under USAF supervision.
As of October 2025, at least four aircraft have been delivered to Luke AFB for Polish use. These jets are being used exclusively for training purposes until infrastructure upgrades at Polish bases are completed—including hardened shelters, secure data links (MADL), ALIS/ODIN integration sites, and electromagnetic shielding facilities required for stealth operations.
- Total ordered: 32 F-35A Block 4
- Delivery timeline: 2024–2030
- Training base: Luke AFB (Arizona)
- Main operating bases: Łask AB and Krzesiny AB
NATO Interoperability and Regional Deterrence Goals
The F-35 acquisition is central to Poland’s broader defense modernization strategy aimed at deterring Russian aggression along NATO’s eastern flank. By fielding a fifth-generation platform interoperable with U.S., UK, Italian, Norwegian, Dutch, Belgian, Finnish and Danish fleets—all operating or acquiring F-35 variants—Poland enhances its plug-and-play capability within allied air tasking orders (ATOs).
The Lightning II’s sensor fusion capabilities allow Polish pilots to act as forward ISR nodes or strike leaders during joint operations. Integrating Link-16/MADL communications ensures seamless data sharing across allied platforms including Patriot batteries (PAC-3 MSE), HIMARS launchers, AWACS assets like E-3 Sentry or E-7 Wedgetail (in UK service), and naval platforms equipped with Aegis or CAMM systems.
Infrastructure Modernization Supports Stealth Operations
A critical enabler for full operational deployment is infrastructure tailored to low-observable aircraft requirements. Both Łask AB and Krzesiny AB are undergoing extensive upgrades funded through national budgets and partially supported by NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP) allocations.
This includes construction of:
- EMCON-compliant hangars for radar signature preservation
- Sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIFs)
- Secure mission planning cells compatible with ALIS/ODIN logistics systems
- Shelters hardened against precision-guided munitions
NATO has also prioritized airbase hardening across Eastern Europe following Russia’s expanded missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure since February 2022—a trend that reinforces Poland’s urgency in preparing survivable basing options.
Pilot Training Pipeline Scaling Up Rapidly
The U.S.-based training pipeline remains crucial until domestic capacity matures. At Luke AFB’s international F-35 schoolhouse operated by the USAF’s 56th Fighter Wing alongside Lockheed Martin instructors, Polish pilots undergo full-spectrum instruction covering:
- BVR combat using AESA radar & IRST sensors
- A/A & A/G tactics using SDB I/II & JDAMs
- Cyber-hardened mission planning via ODIN suite
The first cadre of instructor pilots are expected to return by late 2026 to form domestic conversion units capable of onboarding future cohorts locally—likely based at Dęblin or Mińsk Mazowiecki once simulators arrive.
Strategic Implications: Shaping Eastern Flank Air Superiority
The activation of Husarz Flight signals more than just an organizational milestone—it reflects Warsaw’s intent to be a leading contributor to NATO’s integrated air defense posture from Scandinavia through Romania. With Sweden joining NATO formally in early 2024 and Finland already operating its own F-35As from Lapland bases by mid-decade, regional synergy around stealth-enabled deterrence is accelerating.
If fully realized by decade’s end—with all F-35s delivered and two squadrons stood up—Poland will field one of Europe’s most modern tactical aviation fleets alongside Italy and Norway. Combined with recent procurements like FA-50 light fighters from South Korea and AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters from Boeing, Warsaw is reshaping its air-land combat architecture into a highly networked force designed for peer conflict scenarios.
Outlook: From Symbolic Activation to Combat Readiness
The creation of Husarz Flight provides organizational scaffolding ahead of full squadron formation but remains symbolic until aircraft arrive on home soil. However, given current delivery pace (~6–8 aircraft per year) and infrastructure progress tracked by Poland’s Armament Agency (Agencja Uzbrojenia), IOC could be declared before end-of-decade if no political or industrial delays occur.
