What does the home for Poland’s F-35s look like? A journalist from Polska Zbrojna was the only media representative to enter the grounds of the modern zone at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask and learn how it was built.
In just a few months, the first F-35A Lightning II ‘Hussar’ aircraft will arrive in Poland. They are currently being used to train Polish pilots in the United States. The aircraft are scheduled to land at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask (2nd Tactical Air Wing) in May 2026. By 2029, the Polish Air Force will operate 32 5th-generation aircraft deployed in Łask and Świdwin (21st Tactical Air Base, 1st Tactical Air Wing).
It has long been known that the soldiers of the 32nd Tactical Air Base would be pioneers in operating Poland’s F-35s. However, apart from official announcements regarding the training of pilots and technicians in the United States, little had been said about preparations at the military base near Łódź. This is hardly surprising, given the importance of the entire undertaking and the risks associated with it. “Implementing the F-35 program requires extremely strict classified information protection. This rigorous approach results from many years of experience on the American side in ensuring information security, as well as conclusions drawn from situations that could have posed a threat to the F-35 program. Their 5th-generation aircraft are of interest to many countries,” says Col (Pilot) Krzysztof Duda, Commander of the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask and an F-16 pilot.
“To avoid data leaks that could negatively affect the maintenance of technological and operational superiority, specialized restrictions were introduced and security conditions were created that everyone involved in the F-35 program must strictly observe,” the officer adds.
For this reason, the construction of the new F-35 zone at the Łask Air Base was subject to constant, close supervision. It was a massive undertaking comprising ten investment projects carried out on land that had previously been forested. Today, the site hosts a modern zone fully ready to receive and operate 16 F-35 aircraft, conduct aircraft servicing, and train pilots and engineering-aviation service personnel. Access to the F-35 zone is subject to additional restrictions – most soldiers serving in Łask will not be allowed free entry. No one without authorization may approach the new facilities. A high embankment along the unit’s fence protects the F-35 zone from prying eyes and unauthorized photography attempts. In the future, only a few people will be able to see firsthand that the Polish military possesses what is arguably the most modern 5th-generation fighter base in Europe.
The expansion of the base formally began in 2022 with the submission of the first investment applications. Actual construction of the facilities lasted about two years, and was completed ahead of schedule, in November 2025.
Base Like the One in James Bond Movie
Details of the construction of the new F-35 facilities – due to the nature of the project – remain classified. However, the scale of the undertaking is evidenced by the fact that around 5,000 people worked on one of the buildings alone. It will be the ‘heart’ and ‘brain’ of the entire F-35 zone. It is so tightly protected that most base personnel are not allowed into some of its rooms. “In essence, it resembles a secret James Bond base, built according to assumptions that minimize the risk of any interference by undesirable persons, especially unauthorized access to information. All installations that could constitute weak points have been covered by additional protective measures and are closely monitored by designated personnel. Only those who will work on the operation of the F-35 aircraft according to their official duties will have access,” says Col (Pilot) Krzysztof Duda.
The construction of this and other facilities required detailed vetting of all personnel involved – construction workers without appropriate security clearance carried out their tasks under the supervision of soldiers. Military personnel ensured everything proceeded according to plan and paid attention to every detail. “Our soldiers ensured that at every stage of construction no incidents occurred that could pose a future threat to the facility,” assures Capt Marek Sobieraj, Press Officer for the 32nd Tactical Air Base.
The closed F-35 zone also includes, among other facilities, a maintenance hangar where several aircraft can be serviced simultaneously. It is an ultra-modern, large-area building with what is likely the largest hangar door in Europe – about 120 meters wide – without any supporting pillars.
New Quality
Although the 32nd Tactical Air Base was not formally the contracting authority for the construction (the entire investment was managed by the 12th Airfield Infrastructure Unit in Warsaw), soldiers and civilian employees in Łask actively participated in designing the new infrastructure and defining technical and organizational requirements for receiving the new aircraft. “As future users and administrators, we were able to submit comments. We took part in consultations and oversaw all matters. During project implementation, regular meetings were held with the American party, who set specific requirements,” says the deputy head of infrastructure at the Łask Air Base (the names of those involved in the F-35 program are largely classified).
Before soldiers of the 32nd Tactical Air Base can use the new facilities and airfield infrastructure, a US commission must inspect and approve everything. “Experts will assess whether the completed project meets all American requirements. This is a necessary condition for authorizing the use of this special part of the air base,” explains the commander of the 32nd Tactical Air Base. Col (Pilot) Krzysztof Duda mentions problems with such inspections encountered by other countries introducing the F-35 into service. Poland learned from those mistakes. While those involved in the program do not discuss specifics, an obvious advantage of the Polish investment is that a separate, independent zone was built entirely from scratch in Łask. There was no adaptation of old infrastructure for the new fighters.
The head of training for the engineering-aviation service praises the equipment in maintenance hangar as outstanding. “I can say outright that it’s a dream come true,” he says, adding: “When servicing F-16s, we have to use mobile power units that, for example, provide air conditioning to cool the electronics. Here, it’s all built directly into the hangar infrastructure.”
Jobs Looking for People
Polish technicians who will service the F-35s are currently undergoing training in the United States. Some have already returned, while others are preparing to depart. The head of the engineering-aviation service training at the 32nd Tactical Air Base notes that the vast majority have experience working on F-16s and transition to the new platform without major problems. “It’s the same subject, just different tools,” he says enigmatically. He notes that while American standards apply during training, some issues are handled the Polish way due to regulatory differences. “This mostly concerns the structure and organization of work. In Poland, for example, it’s standard that young officers in the engineering-aviation service get their hands dirty with grease. They know exactly how work on the aircraft is done, which helps greatly in managing people properly. In the United States, they were very surprised that, as an officer, I knew what procedures to perform on the engine. There, the engineering-aviation service officers don’t get their hands dirty,” the captain recounts. “Every system has its pros and cons. Ours is different from the American one, but it’s very good.”
The transformation of the Łask Air Base is a massive undertaking that translates into increased employment. “The unit’s personnel will grow significantly – by about 25%. We are becoming a major employer in the region, the largest in the district and, I believe, one of the larger ones in the Łódź Voivodeship,” says the Łask Air Base commander. The unit is constantly looking for new personnel, and aircraft maintenance specialists are worth their weight in gold. “We’re waiting for young people with knowledge of English – electronics technicians, mechanics, IT specialists. I would like such people, after finishing secondary school, to apply to the Air Force Non-Commissioned Officers School for a one-year training course and then come to us,” invites the head of technicians. What incentives are offered? “Very good pay and the opportunity to work with modern equipment are undeniable advantages. Moreover, this is a developmental work for many years to come, because we’re only just beginning our adventure with the F-35,” the Captain concludes.
The Weight of Responsibility
The representatives of the 32nd Tactical Air Base do not hide their satisfaction with the role they are playing in the Polish Air Force modernization process. “Positive energy also prevails among the Łask Air Base soldiers and employees who are not directly involved in the F-35 program. Everyone is waiting for the moment the aircraft touch down here. They are proud to serve in a unit whose importance will grow not only nationally, but across NATO’s entire eastern flank,” says Capt Marek Sobieraj. Thanks to the ‘Hussars,’ the unit in Łask will gradually achieve new operational capabilities and at the same time become a kind of educational hub for the F-35s, benefiting not only 32nd Tactical Air Base personnel. “This is where the first pilots and technicians trained in the United States will be assigned. This is where instructors will begin their service and then build competencies within our armed forces. To ensure this flow of information works smoothly, we’ve been cooperating with the base in Świdwin for some time now. We must share knowledge and experience to develop capabilities elsewhere as well,” emphasizes Col (Pilot) Krzysztof Duda. The commander notes that if his base helps the 21st Tactical Air Base in Świdwin, their preparation process will accelerate. “As a result, they’ll be able to relieve us of some operational tasks,” he adds.
Introducing the F-35 into the Polish Air Force involves numerous challenges that Poland is facing for the first time. These include operational integration of two tactical air wings that will fly the F-35 (F-16s are operated only by the 2nd Tactical Air Wing) and integration of the 4th- and 5th-generation platforms. Some of these challenges are and will be addressed at higher command levels, but the 32nd Tactical Air Base already feels enormous responsibility for the process in the role of a co-author writing a new chapter in the history of the Polish Air Force. Building the F-35 zone in Łask entirely from scratch was unprecedented not only within the Polish Armed Forces. The success is remarkable and appreciated by foreign delegations, but the 32nd Tactical Air Base is not resting on its laurels. This is only the beginning. We are all awaiting the next chapter in the story of the F-35A Lightning II ‘Hussar’ aircraft.
