Belgium’s first F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters have landed at Florennes Air Base, in the province of Namur, following a direct flight from the United States.
The arrival marks a historic milestone for the Belgian Air Force and signals the beginning of a gradual replacement process for the F-16 fleet — aircraft that will be transferred to Ukraine in the coming years.
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The Belgian Ministry of Defence streamed the arrival of the F-35s live, highlighting the symbolic importance of the moment. The aircraft arrived from Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where Belgian pilots and technicians have undergone months of training in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force’s 312th Squadron.
Now on European soil, the F-35s will begin an operational evaluation and integration phase before officially entering service in 2026.
Gradual Replacement of F-16s and Deliveries to Ukraine
Belgium initially ordered 34 F-35A units in 2018 to replace its fleet of F-16AM/BM fighters. Later, the number was increased to 45 aircraft, which will be distributed between Florennes and Kleine-Brogel Air Bases. The schedule foresees the full replacement of F-16s by 2028.
According to the delivery plan, the fighters will arrive in batches throughout the decade: four aircraft between 2023 and 2027, five between 2028 and 2029, and the remainder by 2030. However, Belgium faced delays after rejecting two F-35As at the end of 2023 due to software certification issues — which pushed back the original timeline.
Initial combat readiness is expected by mid-2027, while full operational capability should be achieved by the end of 2030.
Support for Ukraine
With the arrival of the F-35s, the Belgian government aims to accelerate the delivery of up to 30 F-16 fighters to Ukraine by 2028, becoming the largest donor of this type of aircraft among Western allies.
In April 2025, Prime Minister Bart De Wever confirmed that two F-16s will be delivered this year and another two in 2026. “We have promised to become the largest supplier of F-16s to Ukraine — and we will keep our word. Further deliveries will follow as soon as the F-35s are fully operational. There are no delays on our side,” said De Wever.
The replacement represents not only a technological leap for Belgian aviation but also a strengthening of the Western alliance’s military support for Ukraine.
Source and images: Instagram @belgian_air_force | Militarnyi | Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
