The Belgian Air Pressure has formally welcomed its first F-35A Lightning II to Florennes Air Base, becoming a member of the rising European “wall of F-35s.”
Belgium’s first F-35A Lightning II to be completely stationed within the nation landed right now at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, marking a serious milestone within the nation’s transition to the fifth era fighter. The arrival ceremony, hosted by the Belgian Air Pressure and attended by Lockheed Martin delegates, celebrated the plane’s official incorporation into Belgian operations.
In keeping with a report by VRT Information, 4 Belgian F-35As departed final week from Fort Price, Texas, the place Lockheed Martin manufactures the fighter, for his or her transatlantic journey to Belgium. Throughout the crossing, the plane refueled mid-air and later made a stopover in Lajes, Azores. Three of the 4 plane then continued to Belgium, whereas one jet, FL011, was left behind attributable to what the Belgian Ministry of Defence described as “technical uncertainty relating to its flying capabilities.”
The arrival of the primary F-35s was streamed reside on Youtube by the Belgian MOD.
At a press convention, Main Normal Geert De Decker, Commander of the Belgian Air Pressure, stated the choice mirrored the service’s robust security tradition. “When there’s doubt, there’s little doubt,” he defined.
The plane that landed at Florennes right now should not the primary examples out of the Belgian order. Eight F-35s sporting Belgian Air Pressure markings are already stationed at Luke Air Pressure Base, Arizona, since December 2024, the place F-35 worldwide clients’ pilot and maintainer coaching takes place and the place Belgian Air Pressure pilots will conduct preliminary coaching earlier than redeployment to Europe.
“Along with our NATO and European allies, we’re constructing a wall of F-35s — a defend of over 700 plane securing our European skies,” stated Normal Frederik Vansina, Chief of Defence of the Belgian Armed Forces. “That wall is just not a logo of aggression, however of willpower. It says loud and clear: the skies over Europe belong to those that defend freedom, to not those that search to destroy it.”
“With the F-35, Belgium is reclaiming its place among the many world’s main air forces, geared up with essentially the most superior know-how, built-in inside a multinational and interconnected surroundings,” stated Main Normal Geert De Decker, Commander of the Belgian Air Pressure. “With the F-35, Belgium is buying a fifth-generation fighter jet, a flying weapons platform able to finishing up a number of missions in a single flight.”
“The F-35 is a testomony to the ability of allied air energy, offering a essential benefit to all who function it. As we’ve seen in current operations on Europe’s jap flank, this plane is making a distinction for the deterrence and protection of NATO,” stated Greg Ulmer, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “For greater than 70 years, we have now proudly partnered with Belgium to strengthen its nationwide safety and protection industrial base, and this milestone is a serious step towards making certain the Belgian Air Pressure will proceed staying forward of adversarial threats for many years to return.”
The F-35A replaces Belgium’s long-serving F-16 Combating Falcon fleet, which has been operational for the reason that late Seventies. The transition marks a major leap in functionality, introducing stealth, sensor fusion and networked warfare options to Belgian and NATO air operations.
Together with the plane delivered in-country, Belgium has now obtained 11 of its deliberate 34 F-35A plane. In July 2025, the Belgian authorities introduced its intent to acquire 11 further F-35A jets, bringing the whole to 45 plane. Florennes Air Base, as soon as the headquarters of NATO TLP Programme, will host the primary operational squadron, adopted later by Kleine-Brogel Air Base.
