Poland receives five new F-35A Husarz fighters with KC-46A Pegasus support

+ ADD ZONA MILITAR TO YOUR FEED

Why add us? Get the latest from Zona Militar in your Google feed.

JOIN THE WHATSAPP CHANNEL

Join our official WhatsApp channel and receive the news as it happens.

Five F-35A Husarz fighters head to Poland

Following the recent entry into service of the first F-35A Husarz aircraft, Poland is continuing to build up its fleet with the arrival of five further stealth fighters. Their transatlantic journey was supported by KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling aircraft from the US Air Force (USAF). The fifth-generation jets departed the United States early on Wednesday, bound for the 32nd Tactical Air Base at Łask, where they are expected to join the Polish Air Force's 2nd Tactical Air Wing shortly.

👉 Read more: The Republic of Singapore Air Force will keep most of its new F-35s based in the United States.

Images of the new aircraft indicate that they are airframes carrying the serial numbers 3512, 3513, 3514, 3515 and 3516, progressively increasing the number of fifth-generation fighters intended for Poland's military aviation.

KC-46A Pegasus support for the Atlantic crossing

Three US Air Force KC-46A Pegasus tankers supported the formation during its Atlantic crossing. Satellite tracking platforms identified the aircraft under the callsigns BLUE11, BLUE12 and BLUE13. The group stopped at Lajes Field in the Azores during the journey, before continuing towards Europe and then on to its final destination in Poland.

📌 You may be interested in:

• Two Russian Il-20s intercepted over the Baltic in three days prompt Poland to reinforce its air defence
• ARA Almirante Brown, VBC 8×8 Centauro IIBR, Magallanes, Bayraktar TB3 and HMS Bulwark | Zona Militar TV – Weekly Round-up

The five aircraft are due to arrive only a few months after the first F-35As reached Polish territory in May and were officially brought into service in June under the designation “Husarz”. Poland currently has three aircraft in the country, while others remain in the United States to complete pilot and technical personnel training, a process that has already exceeded 1,000 flight hours.

Poland's F-35A modernisation programme

The induction of the F-35A is part of the Polish Air Force modernisation programme, underpinned by the contract signed in January 2020 for the purchase of 32 aircraft, as well as simulators, training programmes and 33 additional engines. Worth approximately €4.8 billion, the agreement provides for phased deliveries until 2030 and will enable the gradual replacement of the ageing Soviet-origin MiG-29 and Su-22 fleets.

Lastly, the F-35A Husarz programme will be complemented by a future expansion of the Polish Air Force's strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling capabilities. In this regard, Spain's Council of Ministers has authorised the conclusion of a Framework Agreement to move forward with Poland on the acquisition of new Airbus A330 MRTTs. The operation is linked to the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument and has an estimated value of €5.4 billion. The initiative also includes the logistical support required to bring the aircraft into service, providing Poland with an aerial refuelling capability it has not possessed to date.

Photographs used for illustrative purposes.