As part of a major step in building its fleet of stealth F-35A fighters, the Polish government has finalized the purchase of a batch of new AIM-120D-3 air-to-air missiles from the United States, in an agreement that will require an investment of about 500 million dollars from Warsaw. The contract was signed yesterday by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, in an event also attended by senior Polish and U.S. military officials.
In this context, Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the agreement foresees deliveries of the missiles beginning between 2030 and 2031, dates by which all F-35s acquired by the Polish Air Force should be completed and in the hands of their pilots; this is expected to occur in 2029 according to current estimates. He also highlighted that the version purchased is the most advanced of the AIM-120 family, known for incorporating a new navigation system and aircraft datalink, along with a greater range compared to the AIM-120C missiles currently in service.
It is worth recalling that the future Polish fleet of F-35A fighters will not only be equipped with the AIM-120D-3, but that other weapons have also been acquired to form a varied arsenal adaptable to mission requirements. In particular, orders placed during 2024 include AIM-120C-8 and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, AARGM-ER anti-radiation missiles, and JASSM-ER air-to-surface missiles.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz also addressed the ongoing modernization of the country’s Air Force, stating: “I expect that next year at least 11 F-35 aircraft will be delivered to Poland. The purchase of missiles and the modernization of the F-16s are investments in the security of Polish skies and citizens. (…) The Armament Agency is currently working on 500 contracts. These are important contracts for Poland’s security.”
In this regard, it is useful to note that the service already has seven F-35A fighters deployed in the United States, where they are being used for pilot training and for preparing maintenance specialists. This follows an extensive period of classroom and simulator instruction, given that the aircraft is produced only in a single-seat configuration, requiring pilots to be thoroughly trained before flying it.
Looking broadly at Poland’s F-35 program, it should be highlighted that Warsaw invested a total of 4.6 billion dollars in the purchase of 32 aircraft. The first unit was manufactured in 2024, while the first F-35s are scheduled to arrive in Poland between May and June 2026, with the overarching goal of advancing the replacement of the country’s legacy MiG-29 and Su-22 fighters (already retired).
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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