In January 2020, Poland signed a contract worth $4.6 billion to receive 32 F-35A Lightning II jets, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2024. The first six aircraft will be used for training Polish pilots, with the rest arriving by 2030.
Polish officials are considering expanding their combat aircraft fleet with an additional 32 fighters, potentially including the Eurofighter Typhoon or the F-15EX Eagle II. Budget constraints will affect the final decision on the type of aircraft to purchase.
Italy has received 24 of the 90 F-35 fighter jets ordered, with plans to deploy them for air-policing missions. Technical issues with Lockheed’s Technology Refresh 3 are being closely monitored, but Italy believes these will not affect its military operations.
The Italian Air Force is closely following the development of TR-3 upgrades, which are crucial for handling advanced threats. Despite possible delays, Italy is confident it can execute its missions as planned.