After experiencing production delays, Belgium is expected to receive its first F-35A fighter jet in the coming months, as part of a broader order totaling 34 aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin.
Belgium chose the U.S.-made jet in 2018, signing a €3.6 billion ($4.1 billion) contract for over two dozen aircraft to be built in the United States.
“The first F-35 designated for Belgium has completed production and is preparing for delivery this fall,” Lockheed Martin Europe shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Although the initial plan was for deliveries to begin in late 2023, setbacks in the Joint Strike Fighter program led to delays.
In a February interview with Belgian newspaper Le Soir, Belgian Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Frederik Vansina noted that these delays also impacted the initial transfer of 30 retired F-16s scheduled for Ukraine.
Belgium’s current fleet of F-16s—operational for more than three decades—is slated to be retired by the end of 2028, making them available for transfer to Ukraine. At present, the Belgian Air Force operates over 50 F-16s.
Belgian newspaper De Morgen recently reported that the government is considering a potential purchase of 21 more F-35s, which would increase the total fleet to 55 if approved.
The Belgian Ministry of Defense has not issued a response regarding these developments. However, last month, Defense and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken indicated that any future F-35A units could potentially be assembled at the FACO (Final Assembly and Check Out) facility in Cameri, Italy.
