Poland selects and announces future F-35 location

/ Photo by: Leszek Chemperek/CO MON

At the moment the Polish MoD does not foresee removing the single F-16 squadron from the Łask AFB. The base is considered as one of the most modern installations of this type in Poland, if even not the most modern. In recent years the base undergone modernization. Construction works included, e.g. extension of runways and taxiways. The modernization project was intended to prepare the base to host Polish and allied F-35 fighter aircraft.

/ Photo by: Leszek Chemperek/CO MON

‘The Łask Air Force Base is the most modern air base in Poland as well as one of the most modern in Europe. Two years ago modernisation works in this base were completed. Some of them prepared Łask for F-35 operations – longer runway, taxiways, and some other infrastructure parts. However, in order to better prepare the location to host the future Polish F-35s, further improvement of base infrastructure is required. This related especially to new hangars, maintenance facility, training centre with simulators, and more space for weapon storage, because eventually the number of aircraft stationed at Łask will increase twice. Also IT infrastructure in the base should be upgraded. F-35 needs much more effective data transfer systems, than F-16 – in combat missions, but also in service aspects.’ stated Grzegorz Sobczak, Editor-in-Chief of the MILMAG Defense&Space Magazine.

/ Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

After concluding the initial phase of the modernization project, the Łask AFB eventually reopened in 2019. In result, the location has been initially prepared to host the most modern multirole fighter aircraft, like the future Polish or allied F-35s.

/ Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

Although the Polish MoD currently states that the Łask base will host two aircraft platforms, that is the F-16s and F-35s, in reality the capacity of the base is relatively small. In other words, there’s not enough space for permanent stationing of both aircraft types. In result, the Łask AFB will most likely eventually become the base of the sole F-35 platform and the single F-16 will have to be removed to another location.

/ Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

/ Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

There are a few other bases where one of Polish F-35s or F-16s squadrons could be based. The 33rd Transport Aviation Base in Powidz, which until lately was considered as the biggest Polish air base, currently is used by the Air Force in limited scope. However, the base was initially planned to support air transport and logistic operations, not the newest combat aircraft. On the other hand, during the recent ‘Rapid Forge’ multinational exercise in 2019, the Powidz AFB hosted for a short period of time the US F-35 aircraft. Therefore, it ability to become the permanent base of this type of aircraft was already confirmed.

Also the 21st Tactical Air Base in Świdwin, North-Western Poland, could host the future F-35s. Currently, the base is home to remaining Polish Su-22 fighter/bomber aircraft. However, the Polish MoD has already announced its plans to rebuild and modernize the Świdwin base, possibly also preparing it for hosting F-35s. The construction schedule more-less covers the F-35 delivery timeline to Poland. The location of the Świdwin AFB makes it, in theory, a good location for the F-35s due to operational and logistical aspects.

/ Photo by: Leszek Chemperek/CO MON

The 12th Air Base in Mirosławiec could also be an alternative to hosting the F-35 aircraft. Mirosławiec is the former base of the Su-22 aircraft, and currently it supports UAV operations. However, close proximity to Drawsko and Nadarzyce military ranges makes it a good location for temporary, provisional dislocation of F-35 aircraft for short-time operations.

Due to close distance to the border with Russia, the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork and 23rd Tactical Air Base in Mińsk Mazowiecki, which currently host the MiG-29 aircraft, do not seem as possible locations for permanent stationing of F-35s.

/ Photo by: Senior Airman Andrea Posey, USAF

/ Photo by: Leszek Chemperek/CO MON

The contract (Letter of Offer and Acceptance, LOA) for delivery of 32 F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft for the Polish Air Force was signed at the end of January 2020 during a ceremony held at the premises of the 4th Training Aviation Wing in Deblin. ‘The Polish Air Force enters a new phase of its development. We join the elite group of nations operating the F-35 aircraft, which is a peculiar command centre and distinguishes itself with its interoperability’, commented minister Blaszczak during the signing ceremony.

The contract has a value of $4,6 billion (€4,1 billion). It includes also logistical and training packages. ‘This is an incredibly important day for the Polish Air Force, for security of Poland, but also for the safety of our part of Europe’, said the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

As per to the logistical package included in the F-35 contract, it refers to the supply of spare and operational parts, operation management system and equipment for the maintenance personnel under the Global Support Solution (GSS) programme through to 2030.

/ Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jensen Stidham

Whilst, the training package provides continued, complex training of pilots and maintenance personnel through a ground-based system. The project includes an integrated training centre and eight flight simulators.

Under the terms of the agreement, deliveries of F-35A fighter aircraft should commence in 2024 and run through to 2030. The contract states that each year Poland will receive a batch of 4-6 aircraft.

In 2024-2025 the first six Polish F-35s will be temporarily stationed on US soil. They will be used for initial training of future Polish pilots and maintenance personnel in one of US Air Force air bases. Subsequently, these aircraft should be transferred to Poland by 2025-2026.

The Polish MoD envisions, that the future F-35A fighter aircraft will reach their Initial Operational Capability (IOC) only after a number of requirements are met. These include: acceptance of the delivery of at least 8 fighters, training of a sufficient number of pilots and maintenance personnel as well as delivery of necessary spare and operational equipment.

/ Photo by: Leszek Chemperek/CO MON

Pic_10 / Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

/ Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

The future Polish F-35A fighter aircraft were selected and procured under the ‘Harpia’ programme, which was announced and launched by the MoD in late 2018. Initially, the department informed that the country seeks to acquire a number of modern, multirole fighters, which will significantly enhance the operational and combat capabilities of the Polish Air Force.

/ Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

At that time it was expected that the selection of the future combat platform will be conducted through an open, international tender, with a number of foreign manufacturers placing their bids and presenting offers. A competitive selection process would allow the MoD the choose the best available fighter aircraft and negotiate a procurement agreement, which would secure country’s economic and industrial interests.

/ Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

However, eventually the Polish MoD announced in the Spring of 2019 its decision to select the US-manufactured F-35 fighter aircraft as the preferred platform for the ‘Harpia’ programme. Shortly after the governments of Poland and USA began discussions and negotiations, through which both sides worked out the final agreement on the sale of the aircraft.

/ Photo by: Grzegorz Sobczak

The procurement of F-35 multirole fighters will enable the process of modernization of the Polish combat aircraft fleet and gradual phase out of the currently operated Soviet-era MiG-29 fighters and Su-22 bombers/fighters. Further use of these aircraft proves to be pointless, because of their obsolescence, due to which they no longer meet the requirements of the modern battlefield. Furthermore, the age and technical condition of most of the MiG-29s and Su-22s is so bad, that they present a serious threat to the pilots.

Therefore, in real terms, the future F-35s will actually fill the gap in the Polish Air Force’s combat aircraft fleet, since both ex-Soviet platforms have not been used operationally for a few years now, and it seems very unlikely that they will return to active service any time soon, if ever.

In result, the F-35s will support the fleet of 48 moderately modern F-16C/D Block 52+ multirole fighter aircraft, which were procured by Poland in early 2000’s.