On October 24, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the head of the Ministry of National Defense M. Błaszczak, and the Ambassador of the United States to Poland Mark Brzeziński met with soldiers stationed at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask.

American F-22 fighters from the 90th Fighter Squadron of the American Air Force and pilots of Italian Eurofighters stationed at the base in Malbork are on duty in Poland, as part of the NATO Air Shielding mission. The mission provides airspace protection along the entire length of the eastern flank.

The presence of the American air force is also an opportunity to conduct Polish-American air training that prepares the Polish Armed Forces for the admission of the F-35 that will be deployed in Łask.

- We are intensively modernizing the equipment of the Polish Armed Forces. The United States is our primary partner in this process. Polish Patriots are already integrated and on Polish soil. There are also final exercises allowing the introduction of Polish Patriots to the air defense system. We submitted an inquiry for more Patriot batteries that we want to purchase for the Polish Army. Next year, the first Abrams tanks and the HIMARS missile artillery squadron will be delivered to the Polish ground forces. We signed a lease agreement for the MQ9-Reaper unmanned reconnaissance system a few days ago. We consistently strengthen the Polish Armed Forces, cooperating with the United States, thus building interoperability between our armed forces, deterring the aggressor, and ensuring the security of Poland, but also of the entire eastern flank of NATO

- stressed the Deputy Prime Minister.

The 32nd Tactical Air Base, where Polish and American pilots serve today, plays an important role in the defense system of the Republic of Poland. It is a unit with new structures that meet NATO requirements. It functions as part of the 2nd Tactical Aviation Wing with its headquarters in Poznań. The main task of the 32nd Base is to improve capabilities in counteracting military and non-military crisis threats, including terrorism, as well as securing the activities of Allied forces. It is one of the most modern units of the Polish Armed Forces, which constantly takes part in international exercises both in Europe and around the world. As one of the two units in Poland, it has F-16 aircrafts with excellent combat capabilities in the field of air combat and performing specialized tasks.

The goal of NATO's Air Shielding mission is to provide cover and protection to the Alliance's eastern flank, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, in an increasingly complex and ever-changing security environment. Protecting the integrity of Allies' sovereign airspace is an ongoing peacetime task contributing to NATO's collective defense. It is a clear sign of shared responsibility and solidarity throughout the Alliance.