On Monday, April 1st, as announced by the United States Air Forces in Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) public affairs office, four Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole aircraft from the 495th Squadron of the 48th Fighter Wing of the USAF based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom were transferred to the 32nd Air Base in Łask (32. BLT). This will continue the USA’s support in securing NATO’s eastern flank.
Photo: Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders, USAF
Fifth-generation multirole aircraft have replaced four Lockheed Martin F-16CM Block 50 from the 52nd Fighter Wing stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, to continue integration with NATO allies. This deployment underscores the enduring relationships of the USA with allies and partners across Europe.
Operations from forward locations allow USAF pilots to train and operate alongside their European counterparts, while also enabling NATO’s collective defense capabilities. This capability is crucial for a swift and coordinated response, if and when needed, especially in the context of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war and repeated violations of Polish and Romanian airspace.
The American F-35A aircraft had a previous, albeit brief deployment in Poland, which occurred on July 16, 2019, when four aircraft from the 421st Fighter Squadron of the USAF landed at the 33rd Transport Aviation Base in Powidz. On the same day, they departed for Estonia.
When it comes to allied support, Italian and Dutch F-35As remained stationed in Poland for longer. As part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission in an enhanced format, four Italian aircraft were stationed at the 22nd Air Base in Malbork from September 15 to November 2, 2023, and then from November 28 to March of this year. Additionally, on January 23 of last year, 8 Dutch F-35As were deployed there, remaining in Poland until the end of March last year.
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