U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin has completed the production of nine F-35 Lightning II fighter jets for the Belgian Air Component, according to information released by the Belgian Ministry of Defense. The ninth jet in the series marks a logistical milestone: it will be the first to be delivered directly to Belgian soil.
According to the official statement, the aircraft is in the final phase of finishing and acceptance tests. “This is an important step before delivery and a significant milestone for Belgium’s defense capability,” the ministry said in a post on its official X account (@BelgiumDefence, formerly Twitter).
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The first eight F-35s are currently stationed in the United States at Luke Air Force Base, where they are being used to train Belgian pilots. Additionally, Belgian personnel are undergoing simulator training as part of the Simulator Subject Matter Expert program, which will later be transferred to Belgium.
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Belgium signed a contract to acquire 34 F-35A fighters in October 2018. The delivery schedule includes batches of four aircraft between 2023 and 2027 and in 2030, with five additional jets expected in 2028 and 2029. Initial operational capability — allowing limited expeditionary operations — is expected by mid-2027, while full combat readiness is projected by the end of 2030.
The new F-35s will gradually replace the currently operated F-16 AM/BM jets. A portion of these aircraft will be transferred to Ukraine as part of Belgium’s military aid to the country. A total of 30 F-16 jets are scheduled to be donated by 2028.
Former Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo previously stated that the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine is directly linked to the arrival of the new F-35s. “The faster the F-35s are delivered, the sooner we can transfer the F-16s to Ukraine,” he said.
Source and images: X @BelgiumDefence. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
