The first Polish F-35 pilots are already starting training at the teacher level in the US. What does it look like to be able to fly a 5th generation aircraft, which is simply a challenge, and what do the Americans praise us for? Dr. Ireneusz Nowak, Air Force Inspector, talked to General Dyw about training Polish pilots F-35, Magdalena Kowalska-Sendek and Ewa Korsak.
Recently we heard that the first Polish pilots F-35 Lightning II completed their training. We have been waiting for this message since the announcement of the decision to acquisition 5th generation aircraft.
Gen. Dyw. pil. Dr. Ireneusz Nowak: Indeed, this is simply a very crucial minute for Polish air force: the first 2 Poles completed a training section called "transition" in EnglishIt’s okay. ” This means that they are entitled to pilot the F-35 in all conditions and in all areas of basic missions. Each flight attendant performs more than 20 flights on specified training and takes about 50 simulation sessions. The second 1 devotes so much to learning its own, and let us not deceive ourselves there is simply quite a few it. This effort requires learning this specialist cognition in English. But we got it! The first 2 have finished this phase and are about to start another one. These pilots do not return to the country, but begin training at the teacher level.
There are 4 Polish pilots in the United States. How's it going with the others?
Very good. I think the second hailing should take place in the fall. All Polish pilots are trained according to 1 scheme, and time differences arise only from organizational difficulties. Poles prepare according to a completely different plan than all others F-35 pilots. We are the first nation to send airmen for training to the Ebbing National defender Air Base in Arkansas, alternatively than to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, as had happened before.
Why the change?
Many partners of the United States, including Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium or Norway, keep their aircraft in the United States to train their pilots there. And it turned out that the capacity of the base at Luke, which was estimated to be around 140 aircraft, just ended. so Poles are in Ebbing. And though they were the first to appear there, they will not be the only ones there. Training in the state of Arkansas will shortly besides be started by Finns, Germany or Switzerland.
Organizing training in a fresh place was so a major challenge for the United States.
Yes, first of all, the American Air Education Training Command had to re-prepared an air training program for Poles, which would include training at 2 different locations. Secondly, it was essential to adapt the base – in which there were no combat aircraft so far – to adopt modern fighters, i.e. to upgrade airport infrastructure. On the same day, on which we celebrated the completion of the training on the F-35 of the first 2 Polish pilots, another celebration was held in Ebbing, during which Americans announced that the base had reached first operational readiness.
It is said that pioneers always have the worst. How, then, do our pilots rate training at Ebbing?
That's true, but I must say, the Americans have taken peculiar care of our soldiers. The biggest flaw is that pilots usage temporary infrastructure, created utilizing containers, and do not have a simulator on site. On simulator classes they must fly to Florida, which is problematic, but it besides has any advantages, due to the fact that erstwhile Poles are already there, their training sessions are much longer. This gives them better preparation for applicable flights erstwhile they return to Ebbing. Regardless of any obstacles and difficulties, our pilots are doing great. And I'm very happy due to the fact that our training is being watched under a microscope.
Are Americans looking at us like that? What does that come from?
We are the fresh partner of the F-35 program, so we carefully measure the capabilities of our airmen. There's no discount tariff there, so I'm all the more pleased with the flattering opinions about our officers. I spoke to American instructors and AETC commander General Brian S. Robinson late and heard many good words about our airmen. All 4 are rated very high, but the Americans have paid peculiar attention to 1 Pole. I heard it stands out against all the airmen, including American fighter pilots. It is said that it is uncommon to learn so quickly. As an air force inspector, I'm arrogant to hear those words, but I'm not surprised. After respective years of operation of the F-16, we have quite a few experience, even greater than any of our partners in the Alliance. And that's what the percent is now. I am convinced that all Polish pilot F-16, gathering advanced training standards adopted in bases in Krzesiny and in GraceHe'll be fine on F-35.
What about the F-35s themselves?
They admit that the plane is complicated and training – demanding, due to the fact that very extensive. The F-35 has an unusually large number of avionic systems that request to be mastered, and emergency procedures for these aircraft are much more extended than in the F-16, so there is something to learn. The tactics and methods of combat are completely different.
However, the pilots are excited due to the fact that they entered a completely different fresh world. Only now, after respective twelve hours in the air, they discover all the advantages of this platform and its capabilities. They even admitted that the F-35 is easy to fly and possibly even gives more fun with flying than the F-16. This plane is likeable, and they're truly just complaining about software. Unfortunately, the F-35 from this production batch had unstable software, and we had to decide whether we were holding up training, and we put airplanes in warehouses and pay for them, whether we were moving anyway, flying on temporary software. We yet chose the another option. The mark software will be installed in September, so I realize that any temporary problems may arise. For me, the most crucial thing is that we are doing this, and the training is following the schedule.
Let's take a look at that schedule. We have 4 planes and 2 trained pilots, 2 in training. What happens next?
As I mentioned, during the transition phase, pilots must execute more than 20 flights, which gives in the air about 35–50 hours and at least another so much in the simulator. The next phase is teacher training. Ultimately, 24 pilots will receive specified training in the United States. By the end of the year, we're going to have six F-35 aircraft in Ebbing, so it'll velocity up. Our specialists, including technicians and strategy administrators for logistics support and management of the F-35 program will arrive in September.
In time, trained airmen will return to Poland to make the planet of F-35 and build the first squadron. According to the latest information, the first aircraft will scope Poland not in January 2026, but in May or June 2026. We should return from the United States in the mediate of 2027, although I will admit that I would like to see a tiny subdivision of our soldiers left in the United States. I can see that the another F-35 partners are setting up tiny detachments in the US to build interoperability. Americans are leaders erstwhile it comes to tactics and Fights on F-35. They have the best intelligence and reconnaissance systems, which is why I want to keep a permanent relation with them. It would besides be good for us to conduct basic F-35 training in the US. possibly we could avoid the problems that the Krzesin and the Grace base are facing today. Currently, 3 of our combat squadrons alternatively of conducting operational tasks are engaged in basic training of young airmen.
So we have quite a few challenges. What else are the problems?
Thinking about the future, we are already trying to make any changes in the division of airspace. We conduct talks with the Polish Air Navigation Agency. As future F-35 users, we must, in colloquially speaking, cut out more space for ourselves and shut it down for civilian traffic. Only in this way will we be able to make full usage of the capabilities of the aircraft, train in tactics and dynamic maneuvers. We besides request to decision distant from the east border of the country to minimise the hazard of being peeked at. So I presume that specified a separate space should be located west of Łask, where Polish F-35 will be stationed.
What else should we do?
To take full advantage of the F-35 capabilities, you gotta realize that this is more than a plane. I am inactive not certain that the Polish Army is prepared for this equipment. We, as the air force, will do everything possible to get this plane and people to do their best, but the critical minute will be the collaboration of F-35 with another systems of the alleged battlefield – air defense, above all elements “Wisła” programmes and “Narew” or “long-range artillery”, although in their case I see a large understanding.
The problem will surely be air-land integration. There must be an knowing of tactics, techniques and procedures with common capabilities and modes of action. Unfortunately, you can't do all this in advance, waiting for the F-35. All these problems, and most likely quite a few others, will come out in the laundry. Joint training, military exercises are necessary, in a word: practice. But it takes time.
