Belgium will purchase 11 additional F-35 fighter jets, raising its total to 45, as part of an ongoing air force modernization effort. Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed the €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) deal, with eight aircraft already built and the ninth due for delivery in autumn. This move advances Belgium’s 2018 decision to replace aging F-16s with F-35s and aligns its air capabilities with NATO standards. Full operational deployment is expected by 2031.
