The first F-35A fighter jet produced for Poland in the United States completed its inaugural test flight on Monday in Texas, according to The Aviationist. The aircraft is expected to arrive at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas later this December, where training for Polish pilots will begin.
The jet, designated AZ-02 c/n 3502, successfully took off from the Fort Worth air base adjacent to Lockheed Martin’s facility. The flight lasted slightly over an hour and was accompanied by another F-35A operated by the Alabama National Guard.
The F-35A - dubbed "Husarz," as will be all remaining 31 aircraft built for Poland - was officially unveiled and ceremonially handed over to Poland during an event in Fort Worth this past August.
According to Lockheed Martin, Polish pilots are set to begin training with the aircraft at Ebbing Air National Guard Base later this month. Reports suggest that Monday’s test flight involved the second "Husarz" jet intended for Poland.
Lockheed Martin has confirmed that Poland will receive its second aircraft by the end of this year, with six additional F-35As scheduled for delivery to Ebbing by the close of 2025. The first jets are expected to arrive in Poland in 2026, initially stationed at the Łask Air Base, followed by deliveries to the Świdwin Air Base in 2027.
Under a $4.6 billion agreement signed in 2020, Poland is to receive 32 F-35A fighters, along with a training package and spare engines.
The F-35A variant, compared to the B and C versions, boasts a greater range and payload capacity but lacks the short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities of the B model.
The Polish "Husarz" jets will feature the latest technological updates, including an advanced processor, an enhanced cockpit display system, and additional memory capacity. These upgrades are designed to support future software enhancements, ensuring the aircraft remain at the forefront of technological capabilities.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Radek Pietruszka/PAP