“Everything indicates that the F-35 aircraft ordered in 2020, which will arrive in Poland next year, will be unarmed (…) – the F-35s will lack air-to-air missiles,” announced former Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak.
Poland’s public finances are heading in a dangerous direction. Law and Justice MPs raised the alarm during a press conference.
“One of the most important challenges facing Poland is the matter of defense, building a strong and numerous army equipped with modern weapons. Unfortunately, the processes we initiated have clearly slowed down. Everything indicates that the F-35 aircraft ordered in 2020, which will arrive in Poland next year, will be unarmed, because the Minister of Finance has obliged the Minister of National Defense to finance the purchase of air-to-air missiles for the F-35s exclusively from the state budget, not from the Armed Forces Support Fund. If the MON does not decide to conclude the contract, the American offer expires this December. If this deadlock is not broken, the F-35s will lack air-to-air missiles,” explained Mariusz Błaszczak. Without them, the F-35s will be unarmed.
Z dokumentów, do których dotarłem wynika, że @MON_GOV_PL nie jest w stanie znaleźć środków na zakup rakiet do myśliwców F-35. To pokłosie decyzji ministra finansów, który uzależnia zamówienia z Funduszu Wsparcia Sił Zbrojnych spłatą zadłużenia bezpośrednio z budżetu na obronność.… pic.twitter.com/nBpWXIjEiH
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) September 23, 2025
Andrzej Śliwka explained that medium-range guided air-to-air missiles are essential so that F-35 fighters “are not bare.”
“If this agreement is not signed by the end of the year, it will expire. I don’t need to explain what situation this would put the Polish army in. Soldiers fear that the political decisions of Andrzej Domański – Donald Tusk’s right-hand man – will lead to us being toothless in this regard. What is happening with the SAFE instrument is unprecedented. Over 40 billion euros, and Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz proclaims success, completely forgetting that whether this is truly a success can only be assessed in 9 months,” emphasized the Law and Justice politician.
“By May 30, 2026, a decision will be made regarding the funds that may be spent in the Polish defense industry. It depends on Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and the efficiency of his team how this will look,” added Śliwka.