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First Belgian F-35s at Florennes Air Base
Belgium’s first F-35A Lightning II aircraft to be stationed in country arrived at Florennes Air Base. Lockheed Martin joined the arrival ceremony hosted by the Belgian Air Force at the base to celebrate the F-35’s official incorporation into Belgian Air Force operations.
“Together with our NATO and European allies, we’re building a wall of F-35s — a shield of over 700 aircraft securing our European skies,” said General Frederik Vansina, Chief of Defence of the Belgian Armed Forces, in a Lockheed Martin news release. “That wall is not a symbol of aggression, but of determination. It says loud and clear: the skies over Europe belong to those who defend freedom, not to those who seek to destroy it.”
“With the F-35, Belgium is reclaiming its place among the world’s leading air forces, equipped with the most advanced technology, integrated within a multinational and interconnected environment,” said Major General Geert De Decker, Commander of the Belgian Air Force.
“The F-35 is a testament to the power of allied air power, providing a critical advantage to all who operate it. As we’ve seen in recent operations on Europe’s eastern flank, this aircraft is making a difference for the deterrence and defense of NATO,” said Greg Ulmer, president, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “For more than 70 years, we have proudly partnered with Belgium to strengthen its national security and defense industrial base, and this milestone is a major step toward ensuring the Belgian Air Force will continue staying ahead of adversarial threats for decades to come.”
34 F-35As for Belgian Air Force
The combat-proven F-35 is the fighter of choice for 20 allied nations – including 13 in Europe – with active operations across 16 services and more than 1,900 global suppliers. By providing stability, interoperability and unmatched value, the program serves as a strong network of integrated deterrence, reinforces partnerships and fuels the allied defense industrial base.
Including the aircraft delivered in country, Belgium has received 11 of its 34 F-35A aircraft. Eight aircraft are stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where Belgian pilots and maintainers conduct training. In July, Belgium announced its intent to procure 11 additional F-35As, which would bring the total program of record to 45 aircraft.
The F-35 creates high-quality, long-term employment opportunities for Belgium. Through the Essential Security Interest (ESI) program, Lockheed Martin will bring cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and benefits, expanding Belgian industry’s skills and knowledge and providing high-tech jobs for Belgians for decades to come.
More than 1,245 F-35s are currently operational around the globe, and the fleet has surpassed 1 million flight hours. The combat-proven F-35 operates from 50 bases worldwide, including 10 nations operating on home soil. As adversaries advance and legacy aircraft age, the F-35 is critical to maintaining air dominance for decades to come.
The F-35A Lightning II
The F-35A is the US Air Force’s latest fifth-generation fighter. It will replace the service’s aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, which have been the primary fighter aircraft for more than 20 years, and bring with it an enhanced capability to survive in the advanced threat environment in which it was designed to operate. With its aerodynamic performance and advanced integrated avionics, the F-35A will provide next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability for the United States and allied nations.
The F-35 family includes three variants — all single-seat jets. The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant, the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant, and the F-35C carrier variant.
All three variants have similar performance characteristics and the exact same advanced avionics. The variation between models allows military forces to achieve service-specific mission capability, while still taking advantage of the economies of scale that result from the parts and processes that are common to all three variants.
Photo credit: Belgian Air Force
