F-35A and Polish F-16.
Author: Sergeant Aleksander Perz
The presentation of the first fifth-generation fighter F-35A is an important step on the way to introducing these machines into the Air Force. However, full use of these fighters is a challenge for the entire Polish Armed Forces.
This year’s Polish Aviation Day will feature the presentation of the first Polish fifth-generation fighter, the F-35A. As we know, Poland purchased a total of 32 such machines for $4.6 billion, back in 2020, along with a logistics and training package. The first fighters will become the property of the Air Force this year, but they will appear in Poland in 2026. This is a consequence of the complicated training process necessary for such advanced aircraft.
Polish F-35As will reach full operational readiness in 2030. Poland will have at least two squadrons of fighters built using reduced detectability technology, capable of performing a very wide range of tasks. Not only missions Combating targets air-to-air and air-to-ground/water, but also Recognitions: radar (using AESA radar), radioelectronic (using its own passive systems) and optoelectronic (using the very advanced, 360-degree reconnaissance systems it has).
Let us add that the reduced detectability technology in which the F-35A fighter is built means that it can stay much closer to the sources of threats (e.g. anti-aircraft batteries) than other combat aircraft. This, combined with the sensors it has, makes it a very effective source of information and combat system. It must be remembered, however, that the F-35A fully retains the features of reduced detectability when carrying weapons in internal bays.
With this assumption, in the configuration to combat ground targets it can alternatively carry two AARGM-ER anti-radiation missiles, the same number of JDAM bombs, or eight SDB-I or SDB-II small-size bombs (along with two AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for self-defense). The F-35 will therefore only fight the most difficult and important targets on its own, the rest will have to be “taken care of” by other aircraft or types of troops.
This means full and effective use of fifth-generation fighters will require the ability to accept, manage and use that information. It is therefore worth considering what elements Poland needs to properly use F-35A fighters and what opportunities and risks this involves.
Personnel, Logistics and Protection of Own Forces
Before we move on to operational use in cooperation with other elements of the combat system, it is worth saying a few words about securing the F-35s themselves. They need appropriate personnel (flying and ground) and infrastructure. Of course, actions are being taken to build appropriate capabilities, but attention must be paid to special conditionsin which Poland is located.
FA-50 being moved into the shelter hangar
Author: Maciej Szopa/Defence24
The entire F-35A service and support system should be functional not only in normal operation but also threats. So you have to think about it multi-faceted protection of these machines: from counterintelligence, through the ability to mask, strengthen and disperse fighters and the infrastructure supporting them up to protection and defense against the enemy’s influence. The latter may include attacks using ballistic missiles, but also, for example, drones carried by sabotage groups, or… take place in the form connections of different elements.
You also have to think about counterintelligence protection and not only from the military, but also from the civilian services. Russia will want to weaken the potential of Polish F-35s in various ways, including intelligence activities, cyberattacks, and sabotage even below the threshold of open war cannot be ruled out. This is a more universal problem: introducing modern weapon systems that they pose a great threat to Russian potential, they should be protected more strongly than they have been so far. And savings, for example, on the budgets of special services or even protection formations, or negligence in their preparation, can cost hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
Who does the F-35 interact with?
Preparing an appropriate system to secure the operation of the F-35 itself is important, but only the first step to its use. The second is the integration of these platforms into the Polish combat system. Are the entire Polish Armed Forces prepared to absorb them? Before we answer this question, one important caveat must be made: the F-35 will achieve operational capability in a few years, probably initial around 2028.
F-35 radars will be able to see where Polish Patriot radars cannot reach
Author: Leszek Chemperek/CO MON
This means that we should not consider the current capabilities of the Polish Army, but those that will be in service in the future. a few years, as long as their implementation can be predicted with high probability. And there is certainly one area of the Polish Armed Forces about which we can say that has a very good chance of being prepared to cooperate with the F-35. This is ground-based air and anti-missile defense. The IBCS battlefield management system, introduced in the Wisła and in the near future Narew systems, is designed to work with the F-35, and ultimately even to the extent that these fighters will be able to act as a “flying radar” for the air defense system.
This requires some additional work, but it is feasible and planned. The preparation of the F-35 for cooperation with the Polish integrated air defense system was also recently discussed by the deputy head of the Armament Agency and the Ministry of National Defense’s plenipotentiary for air and anti-missile defense, Brig. Gen. Michał Marciniak. This is important because the F-35, as a sensor, will not be subject to the limitations of ground radars, for example those related to the radar horizon. Thanks to it, ground-based air defense systems will be able to “see further” and select means to combat air targets in much more effective way.
The next challenge will be to transfer information to Rocket and Artillery Forces. They should bear the burden of destroying enemy anti-aircraft systems detected by the F-35, as well as surface-to-surface missile launchers. Both the F-35 and the IBCS are adapted to cooperate with the American artillery fire control system AFADTS, with which the Polish Topaz battle management system, used in the WRiA and constantly modernized, is also adapted under the ASCA protocol. Polish artillerymen should also be able to cooperate and efficiently receive data “acquired” by the F-35, although just getting the command systems together will be a big challenge. It may require additional purchases – including ground equipment, from both Polish and American companies.
Here, one important caveat must be made. Communication systems designed to work with the F-35 should enable operation using protocols specific to these fighters and difficult to detect/intercept (so-called LPI), and not standard data transmission protocols such as Link 16. The F-35 is of course compatible with the latter, but using it may contribute to facilitating the detection of fighters by the enemy and reducing the effectiveness of reduced detectability features.
Recently, Lockheed Martin declared the ability to integrate systems designed specifically for cooperation with 5th generation fighters, on Sniper pods, similar to those used by the Polish F-16 (and in the future FA-50PL). This shows that the issue of harmonizing command systems must be approached with great caution.
Graphic attached to information about the Sniper pod modernization, clearly visible F-16 with the Polish flag and in the Polish Air Force livery
Autor. Lockheed Martin
Finally, a few words about the areas in which the Polish Armed Forces NO are unfortunately prepared to absorb and cooperate with the F-35. The first is own air refueling capability (or rather the lack thereof). After the United Right government withdrew from Poland’s participation in the European MRTT program in 2016, analyses are being carried out in this area. When push comes to shove, Polish aircraft are refueled by allies. Also from a multinational unit, but built without Poland’s participation. Incidentally, the decision to abandon the MRTT system was justified by the fact that Poland wants to focus on building “fully national” capabilities, but for now the Air Force relies “fully” on allies.
Recently, Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly criticized the withdrawal from the program. A new directional decision – whether to return to the MRTT program or to build our own capabilities, There isn’t. Needless to say, air-to-air refueling capabilities are considered a priority in NATO. highly deficit and they should be reinforced, also quantitatively, to be able to maintain them even in a crisis/conflict situation. And without air refueling, the possibilities of using the F-35, F-16 and any other combat aircraft will be very seriously limited.
The second area that can be assessed as poorly prepared to cooperate with the F-35, is the command system for Land Forces subunits. In some operational scenarios, situations are taken into account in which the data transmitted by this aircraft can support even the operations of a tank or mechanized company on a dynamic battlefield. However, the modernization of communications in the Land Forces – apart from artillery and several other “islands of modernity” – is much less advanced.
This, combined with the lack of unification of communication systems at the tactical level and the lack of a unified combat management system, means that the “landers” can may not be able to fully utilize the capabilities of the F-35. And there is certainly a lot to do here. Not to mention that even if such data transmission systems become standard equipment, it will be necessary properly prepare soldiers and commanders to use them. Again: taking into account the risk of interference, action of hostile EW assets and electronic reconnaissance, etc.
Leopard 2PL tanks at the headquarters of the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade in Wesoła.
Author: General Command of the Armed Forces / X
Hussar and what next?
The presentation of the first Polish F-35A on the Polish Aviation Day has a largely symbolic meaning, because it signals a new era in the entire Polish Armed Forces. For this revolution to actually take place, hard work and further investments are needed, also in less spectacular areas such as communication, logistics and broadly understood protection of own forces. It is also necessary taking this new combat system into account in the training process and completing planned arms purchases.
Well, you have to look aheadbecause the Air Force needs two more combat squadrons, and the F-35 – alongside air superiority machines such as the Eurofighter and the F-15EX – is one of the candidates. We can therefore safely assume that the Air Force and the entire Armed Forces, as well as the Polish State, will face new challenges related to the implementation and financing of the process of further development of capabilities. Let them be implemented as effectively as possible, so that the potential being built will deter potential aggression.
