“Poland has never been this strong in the air domain”, emphasized President Karol Nawrocki during the ceremony welcoming the first F-35 Husarz fighter jets. As he noted, the modern aircraft are not only a breakthrough for national security, but also proof of the strength of Poland’s strategic partnership with the United States.
The first modern F-35 fighter jets, whose purchase was contracted during the rule of Law and Justice (PiS), have already arrived in Poland. The current Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, had previously been critical of the purchase of these machines, but the ministry he heads has now organized ceremonial flyovers under the slogan “Welcome to Poland”.
On Friday at around 9:45 a.m., three aircraft appeared over Gdańsk and flew above Westerplatte. They then headed toward Warsaw, where at around 10:10 a.m. they were visible over the Vistula River near the Warsaw Citadel. The final point of the route was Kraków. At around 10:35 a.m., the fighter jets flew near Wawel Hill.
After the flyover concluded, shortly after 11 a.m., the official ceremony to accept the F-35 into service with the Polish Air Force began at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask. The event was attended by President Karol Nawrocki, as well as former Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak, invited by the president.
The event is accompanied by a highly unusual situation. According to findings by TV Republika, the “godmother” of the Polish F-35 Husarz is to be Paulina Kosiniak-Kamysz, the wife of Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The decision on selecting the “godmother” of the Polish F-35 is made by the Ministry of National Defence in consultation with military representatives, as established by Niezalezna.pl.
In the past, the candidacy was also agreed with the Presidential Palace. This is how Maria Kaczyńska, the wife of then-President Lech Kaczyński, became the godmother of Poland’s F-16 fighter jets.
President Nawrocki: Poland has never been this strong
During the ceremony, President Karol Nawrocki delivered a speech. He emphasized that the arrival of fifth-generation F-35 Husarz aircraft in the Polish Armed Forces is a historic moment for national security and a breakthrough step in the development of the Polish military, especially the Air Force.
“Thanks to the multi-role F-35 Husarz aircraft, the Republic of Poland is and will be stronger, more powerful, and safer in the years to come. Before our eyes, a modern, breakthrough leap is taking place for the Polish Armed Forces, particularly the Air Force. This is a historic day, a special day for our beloved homeland,” said President Nawrocki.
As he stressed, after 1989 Poland has never been this strong in the air domain.
“Thanks to the excellent, professional Polish pilots, Polish soldiers, and the best equipment in the world, the F-35, Poland has never been this strong and so ready for the multi-domain revolution, which in the 21st century in terms of security is our shared obligation here in the Republic, but also an allied commitment,” he pointed out.
The president noted that the F-35 is much more than a multi-role combat aircraft. As he explained, it is an advanced technological platform capable of analyzing battlefield information and exchanging data with other defense systems.
“It is in fact an airborne command center for the battlefield, capable of staying in dialogue with other equipment, with HIMARS launchers, with Patriot systems. It is a machine that in the coming years will guarantee, on the one hand, the ability of the Polish Armed Forces to operate in a multi-domain environment, and on the other – what is most important to me as President of Poland – it will provide security to Polish women and men,” he stressed.
He added that thanks to its stealth capabilities, the Polish Armed Forces will gain the ability to conduct long-range and precise operations, opening new operational possibilities.
An important signal for Polish-American relations
The president emphasized that the ceremony also has a strategic dimension and is proof of the strength of relations between Poland and the United States.
“A Polish pilot using equipment created in the United States and based on American technology proves that strategic relations and partnership between Poland and the United States are today so very necessary for both countries,” he said.
As he added, the alliance between the two countries is rooted in shared values such as freedom, independence, sovereignty, and democracy. The president also recalled historical Polish-American ties, from figures such as Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski, through Americans of Polish descent who fought during World War II, to the shared experiences of soldiers from missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The president also mentioned his visit to the Lockheed Martin facilities in Texas, where he observed the final stage of preparation of aircraft intended for Poland. As he reported, he was particularly impressed by the machines standing side by side with the flags of various allied countries. “The ability to exchange knowledge in real time between these machines also gives us a sense of building responsibility within the strongest and most important alliance serving the free world, namely the North Atlantic Alliance,” admitted Karol Nawrocki.
The president thanked the United States for its willingness to share modern technology and to develop a strategic partnership with Poland.
“I thank the United States for the fact that our ally is ready to share its technology and engineering achievements also with the Republic of Poland, with such an important ally and partner,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to Polish soldiers, pilots, commanders, negotiators, and ground personnel who participated in the process of acquiring the F-35 aircraft and preparing them for service. “I thank all soldiers, pilots of the Polish Armed Forces, all negotiators and ground personnel. This is a process whose culmination and the beginning of a new chapter we are witnessing today,” he emphasized.
He added that Polish pilots are ready to use the most advanced technologies and possess the qualities that allow them to fulfill their mission of serving the state.
“Polish soldiers are the best soldiers in the world. Polish pilots have the intellectual abilities and strength of will that will never allow them to abandon their mission of serving the Republic of Poland,” he added.