Lockheed Martin has handed over the first three F-35A Lightning II fighter jets to the Belgian Air Force, marking a pivotal transition as Belgium replaces its aging F-16 fleet with fifth-generation air power. The aircraft’s arrival follows an eight-hour transatlantic flight from the U.S. to the Azores, then a four-hour journey to Florennes Air Base, where they were officially inducted into Belgian service amid a formal ceremony attended by defense and Lockheed officials. Belgium initially placed an order for 34 F-35As in 2018, later expanding it to 45 aircraft. Eight will remain at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where Belgian pilots and technicians undergo advanced training. The remainder will be stationed at Florennes and Kleine-Brogel, with four dedicated to NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert force for European air policing. The new fleet is expected to achieve full operational capability by 2030, marking Belgium’s full integration into the multinational F-35 enterprise. Equipped with stealth coatings, advanced sensors, and data-fusion capabilities, the aircraft will strengthen NATO’s situational awareness and interoperability. Lockheed Martin has committed to supporting local industry through technology transfer and long-term sustainment programs. Some of Belgium’s decommissioned F-16s will be transferred to Ukraine under existing aid packages, expanding Kyiv’s defensive air capabilities. Officials underscored that the F-35 program provides Belgium not just with a cutting-edge aircraft, but with a platform central to NATO’s future air strategy.
