Poland has officially named its F-35 fighter jet “Husarz” (Hussar) following a popular vote.
The General Staff of the Polish Military announced the name of Poland’s new F-35 fighter jet on social media, marking a new chapter for the Polish Air Force, which expects to receive 32 of the advanced aircraft.
The name “Husarz,” which refers to the historical Polish cavalry known as Hussars, garnered the most support in a public online poll conducted on the social media profiles of the Polish General Staff. The winner of the contest will be invited to a presentation of the first Polish F-35.
Poland has traditionally assigned animal names to military aircraft, such as the F-16 “Jastrzębie” (Hawks) between 2006 and 2008, and the historical bombers PZL.33 Karaś (Crucian carp) and PZL.37 Łoś (Elk) from the 1930s.
The F-35, produced by American aerospace company Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft currently in service with several NATO countries and other nations such as Israel, South Korea, Switzerland, and Singapore.
The Polish Air Force, which will integrate the F-35s alongside its F-16 fleet, aims to enhance its combat capabilities significantly.
The first batch of these jets is scheduled for delivery by 2026, with Polish pilots beginning their training in the USA this year.
