The air base in Ebbing, Arkansas, is currently home to Poles training to pilot the F-35 “Husarz” fighter jet. This is one of the most modern fighter jets in the world and one of the most advanced combat aircraft to be fielded by the Polish Air Force.

The commander of the 85th Fighter Group, Colonel Nicholas “Matrix” Ihde, talked to “Fakty” TVN correspondent Marcin Wrona about the capabilities of this machine, its armament, combat systems and technological solutions.

As he explained, the “Husarz” is a single-seat fighter with a single engine and oblique stabilizers.

“If we look towards the bow, we can see where the ladder is hidden, which the pilots use to enter the cockpit. They open the compartment, extend the ladder, and climb inside,” he said.

Equipment of the F-35 “Husarz” fighter

Nicholas “Matrix” Ihde also said the fighter is equipped with a special targeting system, resembling a box hidden behind glass. “This device allows us to detect and target potential targets and launch laser-guided weapons,” he explained.

He also pointed to the aircraft’s tail, where the number 03 is visible, indicating that it is the third Polish F-35 produced. “Above the number is the Polish checkerboard. Normally, it has red and white colors, but here, due to stealth technology, shades of gray and white were used,” he added.

The military officer also noted the distinctive “hump” at the rear of the aircraft. He revealed that it conceals a special emergency hook. “We extend the hook and attach it to the braking line, which helps prevent damage to the aircraft. In such a situation, most often only the hook itself requires replacement,” he said.

Finally, the colonel pointed out the cannon the “Hussar” was armed with. “It’s a Gatling gun with six rotating 25-millimeter barrels,” he said. He emphasized that the Polish Army’s version of the aircraft , the F-35A, is the only one equipped with such weaponry.