Belgium receives its first F-35A fighter jets

Belgium has officially begun its transition to fifth-generation air power by taking delivery of the first three F-35A Lightning II fighter jets. The delivery also paves the way for the country to gradually transfer its F-16 fleet to Ukraine.

A New Era Has Begun with the F-35s

The aircraft, serial numbers FL009, FL010, and FL012, departed Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas, facility for Belgium on October 13. After mid-flight refueling, the aircraft stopped at Lajes Air Base in the Azores, Portugal. Three of the four aircraft reached Belgium, while aircraft number FL011 remained in Lajes for technical checks.

The Belgian Ministry of Defense announced that the handover ceremony was attended by King Philippe and Defense Minister Theo Francken. Francken stated, “This delivery symbolizes the beginning of our transition to fifth-generation air power as we prepare to transfer our F-16s to Ukraine in coordination with our NATO allies.”

Seven-Year Procurement Process

Belgium completed its search for a new fighter jet to replace its aging F-16 fleet in 2018, opting for the F-35A. The initial agreement was for 34 aircraft, which was later expanded to 45. The Ministry of Defense is currently in the process of approving 11 additional aircraft.

The new aircraft are planned to be assembled at Leonardo's facilities in Cameri, Italy. Currently, eight Belgian F-35s are based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where pilots and maintenance crews are trained.

Operational Fleets to be Completed by 2027

The newly delivered F-35As will form the first operational squadron to operate from Florennes Air Base. The second squadron is expected to become operational at Kleine-Brogel Air Base by 2027. Belgium plans to declare initial operational capability (IOC) later that year. The entire squadron is expected to reach full capability in the mid-2030s.

The way has been paved for the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine.

Belgium's transition to the F-35 fleet enabled the transfer of existing F-16s to Ukraine. Upgraded to MLU standard, the F-16s have previously played an active role in NATO operations in Libya and in missions in the Middle East. With the entry of the F-35As into service, the F-16 fleet is scheduled to be phased out by the end of the 2020s.

The F-35 Era in NATO

Belgium became the eighth NATO member state to add the F-35A to its inventory, following the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Finland, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Germany has also initiated the acquisition process, while Portugal and Spain have opted out of the program due to cost.

More than 1,200 F-35 aircraft are reportedly in active service worldwide, making the platform central to NATO's next-generation air power strategy.

Belgium's 46-aircraft F-35 fleet will be integrated into the Benelux air defense system, operated jointly with the Netherlands. This step is expected to strengthen NATO's deterrent capacity in the region.