US and Polish pilots stand together on NATO’s front line
Fox Information Digital goes inside Poland’s Thirty second Tactical Air Base the place American and Polish forces function collectively as Warsaw prepares for a brand new period of army firepower. (Flight video courtesy of the Thirty second tactical base, Lask, Poland.)
NEWNow you can hearken to Fox Information articles!
LASK, Poland — Poland is predicted to obtain its first F-35 fighter jets “very, very quickly”, Polish Deputy Protection Minister Paweł Zalewski advised Fox Information Digital, as American and Polish forces put together collectively at a key NATO air base close to the alliance’s japanese flank.
Fox Information Digital obtained unique entry to Poland’s Thirty second Tactical Air Base in Lask, the place commanders pointed to the hangars being ready for the arrival of the U.S.- made fifth-generation plane, a part of Poland’s $4.6 billion buy of 32 F-35 from Lockheed Martin.
The jets haven’t arrived but, however the partnership behind them already has.
POLAND SEEKS ANSWERS AFTER PENTAGON SCRAPS PLANNED US ARMORED BRIGADE ROTATION
F-35 fighter aircrafts fly over the White Home throughout Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s go to in Washington, DC on September 3, 2025. Trump and Nawrocki mentioned the flyover in reminiscence of a Polish pilot who just lately died in coaching, calling him a “legend.” (Oliver Contreras/AFP by way of Getty Photos.))
Polish and American personnel practice, function and in some circumstances are stationed collectively on the bottom, reflecting the unusually shut army relationship between Warsaw and Washington at a time when NATO burden-sharing remains beneath political scrutiny.
Lt. Col. Pete Nanoslawski, commander of the 52nd Operations Group Detachment 1 of the U.S. Air Force, initially from New York and stationed in Poland for the previous 5 years, advised Fox Information Digital that Poland’s army modernization has considerably deepened cooperation between the 2 militaries.
“We’re experiencing unbelievable help from Polish-provided logistics help and Polish-provided infrastructure,” Nanoslawski mentioned whereas standing alongside Polish commanders on the bottom.
A Polish F-16 on the Thirty second Tactical Air Base in Lask. (Efrat Lachter/Fox Information Digital)
He mentioned Poland’s funding in American army methods and joint operations displays how severely Warsaw views threats from Russia. “Their international army gross sales portfolio is an urge for food that’s insatiable, and rightfully so.”
The shut relationship between the 2 militaries was seen all through the go to. As Polish commanders spoke about cooperation with the United States, they regularly turned towards their American counterparts with familiarity that went past formal alliance language.
NATO ALLY POLAND WARNS RUSSIA, BELARUS PUSHING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS TOWARD ALLIANCE — AND THE US
“We converse the identical language, solely with totally different accents,” Col. pilot Krzysztof Duda, commander of the Thirty second Tactical Air Base in Lask, advised Fox Information Digital.
Duda, who studied in the US and attended the U.S. Air Warfare School, described himself as “a toddler of the American training system.”
“The wedding we have now with the U.S. on the army degree, even if you wish to divorce, we might not,” Duda mentioned with a smile,”However we don’t need the divorce.”
Nanoslawski added that the American presence in Poland supplies “enhanced ahead presence and the power to maneuver and modify quickly.”
President Donald Trump shakes fingers with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, throughout a gathering within the Oval Workplace of the White Home, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP Picture )
The partnership is now getting into a brand new section with the combination of the U.S.-made F-35 into Poland’s air drive fleet.
Poland signed a $4.6 billion settlement in 2020 to buy 32 F-35A fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
Duda, who’s overseeing the implementation course of at Lask, mentioned the transition includes years of coaching, infrastructure upgrades and coordination with the US.
Coaching to change into an F35 pilot isn’t just an extended course of, it is an costly one too — Duda estimates that it prices round $55 million per pilot.
The bottom itself has undergone in depth modernization to arrange for the plane, together with new operational infrastructure, upkeep methods and categorised amenities required beneath American certification requirements.
In an interview with Fox Information Digital in Warsaw, Polish Deputy Protection Minister Paweł Zalewski confirmed the primary F-35 arrival is predicted quickly. “I can verify that it is going to be very, very quickly,” Zalewski mentioned.
POLAND SHOOTS DOWN DRONES IN ITS AIRSPACE DURING RUSSIAN ATTACK ON NEIGHBORING UKRAINE
A Polish and American flag seen on the Thirty second-Tactical Airbase in Lask-Poland. (Efrat Lachter/Fox Information)
“F-35s supplies very, crucial capabilities, so it presents domination in the air. That’s essential within the battlefield these days,” he added. “It will likely be a functionality developed along with People.”
At a time when NATO burden-sharing stays a recurring debate in Washington, Poland has emerged as one of many alliance’s strongest army companions, dramatically growing protection spending, buying American weapons methods and internet hosting U.S. forces.
For a lot of Polish officers, the risk from Moscow is deeply private.
Lt. Col. “Shooter,” a Polish F-16 pilot on the base, advised Fox Information Digital that nations on NATO’s japanese flank nonetheless carry reminiscences of Soviet domination.
POLISH GOVERNMENT PLANS MANDATORY MILITARY TRAINING FOR ADULT MEN
“There are nonetheless those that lived in communism,” he mentioned. “We bear in mind, and we don’t need something like that to occur once more.”
Taking a look at Russia’s actions in Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea and Ukraine, he mentioned Poland believes deterrence is important.
“We have now this instinct most likely written in our DNA,” Shooter mentioned. “When they’re doing one thing, they’re not going to cease except the price of the additional operation goes to be greater than what they’re going to realize.”
In response to the U.S. Air Pressure, Polish pilots started F-35 coaching in the US in 2024, together with at Ebbing Air Nationwide Guard Base in Arkansas. The thirty third Fighter Wing introduced in February {that a} Polish pilot had accomplished the primary flight on Poland’s new F-35A plane as a part of the coaching program.
Lockheed Martin advised Fox Information Digital that “integration of the F-35 into the Polish Air Pressure fleet advances regional deterrence, enhances interoperability and strengthens European safety.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“As seen in current fight and air policing operations, the F-35 is actively serving to defend NATO and allied airspace by deterring and defeating threats, and it’ll defend Poland’s nationwide safety for many years to come back,” an organization spokesperson mentioned.
The corporate added that preparations are persevering with for Poland’s first in-country F-35 arrival celebration at Lask in June.
