Poland is preparing to receive a new batch of fifth-generation fighters. As reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement by Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, five more F-35A aircraft will be sent to the country's territory in the near future. Together with the aircraft already delivered, this will bring Poland's total F-35 fleet to eight fighters.
What the defence minister said
According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the five new aircraft, bearing Poland's "chessboard" markings, are being sent to the 32nd Tactical Aviation Base. The minister emphasised that this reinforcement concerns not only the country's air force, but the entire security system that Poland is building together with its alliance partners. Accordingly, the delivery is viewed in Warsaw not as a purely military matter, but as a political-strategic step that entrenches Poland's place in the region's defence architecture.
Timeline: from the first three to eight
The first three F-35 fighters arrived at the base in Łask in May 2026, marking the end of a long wait: Ukrainian media note that Poland had been waiting about six years for the first delivery. Now, according to statements from the country's leadership, five more aircraft will join them, bringing the total fleet to eight fighters. This forms the foundation for further expanding the capabilities of tactical aviation and preparing the pilot corps to operate fifth-generation aircraft.
Context: why the F-35 remains in short supply
The topic of F-35 fighters has been actively discussed in various countries recently, and Poland is just one example. Turkey still cannot obtain its own F-35s: it is held back by Russian S-400 air defence systems, which the country has so far been unable to get rid of, as no buyer for them has been found. Israel, for its part, is considering developing its own F-35 analogue — an unmanned combat aircraft with similar characteristics — as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its own defence-industrial complex.
Significance for regional security
For Poland, the arrival of the F-35s is not merely a fleet upgrade, but an element of a long-term modernisation strategy built in close coordination with allies. In a situation where access to advanced fighters remains limited and politically sensitive, as the cases of Turkey and Israel show, Warsaw's ability to consistently receive fifth-generation aircraft underscores its priority status in the collective security system. The further dynamics of deliveries and the pace of F-35 integration into the combat force will be key indicators of how quickly Poland is turning its stated plans into real combat capabilities.
