Poland's first F-35 Block 4 crews trained and preparing to receive fifth-generation fighters

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak visits the 31st Tactical Air Base in Poznań. There was a ceremony marking the completion of a special training cycle for the crews of the F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets.

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The pilots are training on simulators. Next year they will be able to start training on the fighters. Mariusz Blaszczak also stressed that the aircraft will be able to exchange data with the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, which is in service with the Polish Armed Forces.

Warsaw has announced the signing of a contract with Lockheed Martin at the end of January 2020. The Ministry of Defence ordered 32 fifth-generation F-35A (basic version for the Air Force) Block 4 fighters at a cost of $4.6 billion. The agreement includes support and training systems. Poland was at the time the tenth NATO country to choose the F-35.

Deliveries of fifth-generation fighters will start in 2024 and continue until 2030. The first six aircraft will remain at a US Air Force base for one year for training purposes.

The training package includes comprehensive training for pilots and technicians, as well as a ground-based training system. The latter includes an integrated training centre and eight flight simulators. In addition, the contract provides for full logistics support for the fifth-generation F-35A Block 4 fighters through 2030.

Source: Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej