Poland to receive final US-built F-35PL ahead of Italian-built deliveries

With 32 F-35PL combat aircraft on order (and a further 32 approved), Poland is shortly to receive its final contracted aircraft to be built in the US with the remainder to come from Italy. (MND/ Rafał Samluk)

The last Lockheed Martin F-35PL Husarz (Hussar) combat aircraft to be built in the US is to shortly be received by the Polish Air Force (Inspektorat Sił Powietrznych: ISP), ahead of the commencement of deliveries of Italian-built aircraft.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced the milestone on 5 August 2026, saying that the last of 16 aircraft to be built at the Fort Worth production facility in Texas will shortly be flown into the 32nd Tactical Air Base at Łask Airfield in central Poland. The remaining 16 F-35As are to be built at the Cameri final assembly and checkout (FACO) facility near Milan through to 2030.

“This is the last machine for the Polish [Armed Forces] produced in the USA. The next ones out of the 32 ordered by Poland will be assembled in Italy,” the MND said.

News of the event came just two months after Poland received its first three F-35PL (the national designation for the international F-35A Lightning II) aircraft into Łask Airfield from Fort Worth on 22 May 2026. Deliveries of those F-35PLs already contracted will run through to 2030. Poland has ordered 32 aircraft to date, with a follow-on buy of a further 32 F-35PL announced in June 2026. No contract has yet been signed, and the MND has not disclosed where these additional aircraft might be built.