Training on the F-35 Continues. More Polish Pilots Ready for Duty
Photo. st. sierż. Rafał Samluk/ Combat Camera
A ceremony was held at the National Guard base in Ebbing, Arkansas, to mark the completion of training by another group of Polish F-35A Lightning II fighter pilots. This is one of the key milestones in preparing to introduce the fifth-generation fighter jets into the Polish Air Force. The pilots will soon begin an instructor course, which will enable them to train future aviators back in Poland.
The training is part of a broad military cooperation between Poland and the United States and involves a total of 24 pilots and over 90 technicians. The first Polish pilots began their course in 2024 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where they received theoretical instruction and simulator training. Practical flight operations are already taking place in Arkansas, where the F-35s have been stationed since early 2025.
At the same time, this week marks the beginning of training for the first group of technicians who will be responsible for ground maintenance of the F-35A aircraft in Poland. These personnel will form the core of the technical staff needed to maintain the combat readiness of the new fighter jets.
Poland is among the first NATO countries to undergo training at the newly established center in Ebbing. In the future, personnel from other countries — including Finland, Germany, and Singapore — will also join the base.
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Poland finalized the procurement of 32 F-35A Block 4 aircraft in 2020. The jets are scheduled to begin arriving in the country in 2026, initially being stationed at the Łask Air Base. These modern fighters will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the Polish Air Force, offering stealth technology, advanced electronic warfare systems, and full integration with NATO command and control networks.
