In a joint operation, Poland's 32nd Tactical Air Base, located in Lask, welcomed the first F-35 fighter aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The base's modernization process and close relationship with the U.S. military are highlighted.
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— Poland is expected to receive its first F-35 fighter jets"very, very soon", Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski told Fox News Digital, as American and Polish forces prepare together at a keyFox News Digital received exclusive access to Poland's 32nd Tactical Air Base in Lask, where commanders pointed to the hangars being prepared for the arrival of the U.S.- made fifth-generation aircraft, part of Poland's $4.6 billion purchase of 32 F-35 from Lockheed Martin.
F-35 fighter aircrafts fly over the White House during Polish President Karol Nawrocki's visit in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025. Trump and Nawrocki discussed the flyover in memory of a Polish pilot who recently died in training, calling him a"legend.
"Polish and American personnel train, operate and in some cases are stationed together on the base, reflecting the unusually close military relationship between Warsaw and Washington at a time when, originally from New York and stationed in Poland for the past five years, told Fox News Digital that Poland’s military modernization has significantly deepened cooperation between the two militaries. "We are experiencing incredible support from Polish-provided logistics support and Polish-provided infrastructure," Nanoslawski said while standing alongside Polish commanders on the base.
The close relationship between the two militaries was visible throughout the visit. As Polish commanders spoke about cooperation with theNATO ALLY POLAND WARNS RUSSIA, BELARUS PUSHING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS TOWARD ALLIANCE — AND THE US "We speak the same language, only with different accents," Col. pilot Krzysztof Duda, commander of the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Lask, told Fox News Digital.
Duda, who studied in the United States and attended the U.S. Air War College, described himself as"a child of the American education system.
" "The marriage we have with the U.S. on the military level, even if you want to divorce, we would not," Duda said with a smile,"But we don’t want the divorce. " Nanoslawski added that the American presence in Poland provides"enhanced forward presence and the ability to maneuver and adjust rapidly. " President Donald Trump shakes hands with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington.
The partnership is now entering a new phase with the integration of the U.S.-made F-35 into Poland’s air force fleet. Poland signed a $4.6 billion agreement in 2020 to purchase 32 F-35A fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Duda, who is overseeing the implementation process at Lask, said the transition involves years of training, infrastructure upgrades and coordination with the United States.
Training to become an F35 pilot is not just a long process, it's an expensive one too — Duda estimates that it costs around $55 million per pilot. The base itself has undergone extensive modernization to prepare for the aircraft, including new operational infrastructure, maintenance systems and classified facilities required under American certification standards. In an interview with Fox News Digital in Warsaw, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski confirmed the first F-35 arrival is expected soon.
"I can confirm that it will be very, very soon," Zalewski said. At a time when NATO burden-sharing remains a recurring debate in Washington, Poland has emerged as one of the alliance’s strongest military partners, dramatically increasing defense spending, purchasing American weapons systems and hosting U.S. forces. Lt. Col.
"Shooter," a Polish F-16 pilot at the base, told Fox News Digital that countries on NATO’s eastern flank still carry memories of Soviet domination. "There are still people that lived in communism," he said. "We remember, and we don’t want anything like that to happen again. " Looking at Russia’s actions in Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea and Ukraine, he said Poland believes deterrence is essential.
"We have this intuition probably written in our DNA," Shooter said. "When they are doing something, they’re not going to stop unless the cost of the further operation is going to be more than what they’re going to gain. "According to the U.S. Air Force, Polish pilots began F-35 training in the United States in 2024, including at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in.
The 33rd Fighter Wing announced in February that a Polish pilot had completed the first flight on Poland’s new F-35A aircraft as part of the training program. Lockheed Martin told Fox News Digital that"integration of the F-35 into the Polish Air Force fleet advances regional deterrence, enhances interoperability and strengthens European security.
"by deterring and defeating threats, and it will protect Poland’s national security for decades to come," a company spokesperson said. The company added that preparations are continuing for Poland’s first in-country F-35 arrival celebration at Lask in June. Efrat Lachter is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter.
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