Lockheed Martin Hosts Rollout Ceremony to Celebrate

On August 28, Lockheed Martin presented the Polish Government with their first F-35A Lightning II. They unveiled the aircraft during a rollout ceremony at Lockheed’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. It was attended by American and Polish senior government officials and military leaders.

"Over more than 100 years of the Polish Air Force, there have been many generations of pilots and aircraft. I am proud to be part of history today, introducing the F-35 as the next generation, which will protect and defend Poland's future for many years,” stated Major General Ireneusz Nowak, Inspector of the Polish Air Force. “We are joining a strong coalition of 5th generation fighters across Europe, bolstering air superiority through allied deterrence.”

Poland is the most recent investor in the F-35’s allied deterrence. Their new fighter, officially named "Husarz" to honor one of their historic cavalry units, boosts the nation’s military modernization efforts and permits expanded foreign mission participation. The first of 32 total F-35As, specified as AZ-01, will be delivered to the Poland Air Force in December. Pilot training will be conducted at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas.

This follows a meeting two months ago, in which Lockheed Martin executives met in Fort Worth to discuss accelerated deliveries of the F-35 to allied nations. The company noted that its capabilities are crucial to NATO defense as global threats continue to rise.

"As the NATO aircraft of choice, the F-35 is a powerful force multiplier and critical to deterring and defeating threats for Poland and its allies," commented Lockheed Martin President Greg Ulmer. "We are honored to strengthen our enduring partnership with Poland through today's celebration, ensuring Polish national security and long-term capability development for decades to come."

With delivery underway, F-35s now operate in 32 bases worldwide. This is a significant milestone for both the Polish Air Force and NATO as a whole.

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com