King Philippe and Defence Minister Theo Francken welcome Belgium's first F-35A Lightning II fighters at Florennes Air Base, making a historic step in the nation's fifth-generation airpower. Image: Military Machine].
(The Post News) -Belgium has, on 13 October, formally taken delivery of three Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, marking a milestone in Belgium’s history for fifth-generation air incorporation and a forward step toward handing over the F-16 fleet to Ukraine.
The aircraft FL009, FL010, and FL012 arrived at Florennes Air Base from Fort Worth in Texas after an Atlantic crossing with a stopover in the Azores for refueling on 13 October. A fourth aircraft, FL011, stayed back at Lajes Air Base due to what the Belgian Defence Ministry termed “technical uncertainty surrounding its airworthiness.”
Historic Milestone for Belgian Defence
The ceremony, attended by Defence Minister Theo Francken and King Philippe, marks a new chapter in the modernization of the country’s air defence. According to quotes from Le Soir attributed to Francken, “This delivery allows us to start the evolution to a fifth-generation force while preparing to transfer our F-16s to Ukraine in consultation with NATO allies.”
Belgium first selected the F-35A back in 2018 after a long-drawn-out selection process to replace its aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons. The initial order was for 34 aircraft and was later increased to 45, with the Defence Ministry seeking the purchase of another 11 to be built at Leonardo’s Cameri facility in Italy.
Eight Belgian F-35As are currently deployed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for conversion training of Belgian pilots and maintenance personnel. The arrived aircraft will form Belgium’s first combat-coded F-35 squadron at Florennes, with a second one at Kleine-Brogel by 2027.
The F-35 will offer a transformational capability to the Belgian Air Component through a fusion of stealth with advanced systems such as AN/APG-81 AESA radar and the AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare suite, thus providing improved situational awareness and survivability.
Path Cleared for F-16 Transfer to Ukraine
The arrival of the F-35A allows Belgium to begin to participate officially in coalition efforts alongside Ukraine in support of its air defense, with the upgrading of F-16 MLUs to be transferred over. Belgian F-16s, hardened in Libya and Operation Inherent Resolve, will maintain Quick Reaction Alert status well into the late 2020s before retiring.
Belgium is in the system integration for air defense in Europe together with the other NATO F-35 operators—the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Poland, and the UK. Germany will also take the aircraft, while Spain and Portugal have preferred to wait due to costs.
Belgium is expected to have Initial Operational Capability by 2027, with a minimum of four F-35As expected to be dedicated to QRA duties and full operational capacity by the mid-2030s.
The arrival of the F-35 sends a clear signal of Belgium’s entry into the fifth-generation fighter club and NATO’s deepening deterrence posture commitment. For Ukraine, it sends hope, as each of Belgium’s F-16s appears less and less abstract, inching closer and closer toward actual transfer after an eternity in waiting.
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