Fox News recently conducted an in-depth visit to the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Poland as Warsaw authorities prepare for the next generation of military firepower, with the United States and Polish forces jointly operating at this critical NATO Eastern flank base.
Polish Deputy Minister of Defense Paweł Zalewski confirmed in an interview that Poland is expecting its first batch of F-35 fighter jets in a “very, very short time.” These American-made fifth-generation fighter jets are part of Poland’s $4.6 billion order of 32 F-35A aircraft from Lockheed Martin in 2020.
While the jets have not officially arrived yet, the close partnership between the two countries is already evident. Personnel from both the US and Poland are training and operating together at the base, and in some cases, even co-locating, reflecting an exceptionally close military relationship between the two nations.
Lieutenant Colonel Pete Nanoslawski, Commander of the 1st Squadron of the 52nd Operations Group of the US Air Force, has been stationed in Poland for five years. He noted that Poland’s investment in the US military system and joint operations reflect Warsaw’s high regard for the threat from Russia: “Their demand for foreign military sales is endless, and that is natural. We have received significant support in logistics and infrastructure from the Polish side.”
Throughout the interview process, the camaraderie between the two military forces surpassed formal ally rhetoric. “We speak the same language, just with different accents,” said Colonel Krzysztof Duda, Commander of the 32nd Tactical Air Base, who attended the U.S. Air War College, adding with a smile, “We are married on a military level with the Americans; even if you want a divorce, we won’t. And we don’t want a divorce at all.”
Colonel Nanoslawski added that the US presence in Poland provides “enhanced forward presence, as well as rapid maneuverability and adaptation capabilities.” With the integration of F-35 fighter jets into the Polish Air Force fleet, the partnership between the two countries is entering a new phase.
Colonel Duda, responsible for overseeing the project at the base, stated that this transformation involved years of training, infrastructure upgrades, and close coordination with the US. Training a single F-35 pilot is a lengthy and costly process, with the estimated training cost per pilot around $55 million. Extensive modernization renovations were carried out at the base to accommodate the new aircraft, including the construction of new combat infrastructure, maintenance systems, and classified facilities required by US certification standards.
Zalewski emphasized in Washington that the F-35 provides crucial combat capabilities, bringing air superiority, which is decisive on today’s battlefield, making it a capability shared with the Americans.
Amid frequent debates in Washington over NATO defense spending, Poland has significantly increased its defense expenditure and has become one of the strongest military partners within NATO.
For many Polish military officers, the threat from Moscow remains vivid. A Polish F-16 pilot at the base, Lieutenant Colonel “Shooter,” told Fox that Eastern NATO countries still hold memories of Soviet rule.
“There are people still living here who experienced the communist era, and we never want that to happen again,” he said. Referring to Russia’s actions in Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea, and Ukraine, he added, “This intuition might be ingrained in our DNA. When they act, they won’t stop unless the cost of further action exceeds what they stand to gain.”
According to the US Air Force, Polish pilots underwent training in Arkansas at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in 2024 and elsewhere. In February of this year, a Polish pilot flew the new F-35A fighter jet for the first time.
Lockheed Martin informed Fox that integrating the F-35 into the Polish Air Force fleet enhances regional deterrence and strengthens European security. A company spokesperson added that the celebration of the arrival of Poland’s first homegrown F-35 will take place in June at the Lask base, with preparations currently ongoing.