Although Portugal and Spain have recently reversed course on the F-35, the aircraft has been widely adopted across the NATO alliance.
On Tuesday, four Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets landed in Belgium, and will soon be used to equip the Belgian Air Force’s 1st Squadron. The aircraft, serial numbers 009-012, flew from the aerospace giant’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to Florennes Air Base in Wallonia, Belgium. That delivery follows the arrival of eight Lightning II fighters to the Belgian F-35 Conversion Unit (BEL F-35 CU) at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona.
Brussels has set a goal of having at least four of the fifth-generation fighters in service and deployable for “quick reaction alert” (QRA) by early 2027, according to international military analyst firm Janes.
Belgium Has Wanted F-35s for Nearly a Decade
The delivery of the four F-35s is the latest milestone for the NATO member nation’s program of record. The Belgian Air Force announced in 2018 that it had selected the fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter to replace its aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons.
Four years later, production began on AY-01, a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, for Belgian service. That aircraft was officially presented to the Belgian government at a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility in December 2023.
Last December, the first Lightning II aircraft arrived at Luke AFB for initial pilot training, which began earlier this year.
Brussels’ program of record initially called for the Belgian Air Force to operate 35 F-35s, with the fleet to be operational by early 2031. That number of fighters was considered inadequate to meet the country’s defense needs; however, after the country published its “Strategic Vision” document, which addressed the nation’s defense needs.
It was determined that fewer than three dozen F-35s would be able to fill the role of the 54 F-16s being retired.
In July, following the publication of the report, Belgium increased its defense spending, boosting the number as part of the Netherlands’ lead.
Current plans call for the Benelux nations to collectively operate 46 F-35s, which are expected to be in service by the mid-2030s. Although the original order will be completed at Fort Worth, the additional 11 aircraft will be built at the Cameri final assembly and check (FACO) facility in Italy. According to a report from Defense News from July, the added fighters were part of a €1.67 billion ($1.95 billion) package, which would include spare parts, support, and training.
Belgium is also far from alone in increasing the size of its F-35 fleet.
NATO Loves the F-35
Although Portugal and Spain have recently reversed course on the F-35, the aircraft has been widely adopted across the NATO alliance. Members of Germany and Poland are reportedly holding internal discussions about purchasing additional fighters, and the UK has also been seen as close to signing a deal for additional F-35s. Currently, more than 1,200 of the fifth-generation fighters are in service around the world.
Earlier this month, the aerospace firm and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) confirmed that an agreement had been reached for Lots 18 and 19, which will deliver nearly 300 additional stealth fighters in the next fiscal year.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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