Belgium has officially received its first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet from Lockheed Martin at a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas. This milestone marks not only a generational leap in Belgian air combat capability but also deepens the nation’s role in the broader NATO fifth-generation ecosystem. The acquisition is part of a broader modernization effort that includes industrial offsets and technology transfers to bolster Belgium’s domestic aerospace sector.
First F-35 Delivered to Belgium Amid Broader Fleet Modernization
On December 13, 2023, Lockheed Martin handed over the first of 34 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants ordered by Belgium under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The aircraft—tail number AY-01—will initially remain at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona for pilot training under the 308th Fighter Squadron before eventual transfer to Belgium’s Kleine-Brogel Air Base.
Belgium selected the F-35A in October 2018 to replace its aging fleet of approximately 54 F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcons. The decision followed an extensive evaluation process that considered competing platforms including the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale. The total value of the procurement program is estimated at €4 billion ($4.3 billion), covering aircraft acquisition, training systems, infrastructure upgrades, and sustainment packages.
Enhanced Capabilities for NATO Operations
The integration of the F-35 into Belgian service represents a significant upgrade in terms of stealth survivability, sensor fusion, and networked warfare capabilities. As a fifth-generation multirole fighter equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar (AN/APG-81), Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), and advanced electronic warfare suites, the F-35 provides full-spectrum dominance across contested environments.
For NATO operations—especially those involving integrated air defense suppression (SEAD/DEAD), intelligence-gathering patrols over Eastern Europe, or Baltic Air Policing—the F-35’s low observable profile and secure datalinks like MADL (Multifunction Advanced Data Link) offer strategic advantages. Belgium becomes the eighth European nation to operate the type after Norway, Italy, the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Poland.
Industrial Participation and Additive Manufacturing
A key component of Belgium’s selection was industrial return. Under offset agreements negotiated with Lockheed Martin and its subcontractors such as Pratt & Whitney (F135 engine provider), several Belgian firms have been integrated into the global F-35 supply chain.
- Sonaca Group: Supplies structural components including wing leading edges and fuselage parts using composite materials.
- SABCA: Provides maintenance support for actuators and hydraulic systems; has invested in robotic production lines for precision assembly.
- Materialise NV: A leader in additive manufacturing based in Leuven; contributes expertise in metal 3D printing for non-critical components such as brackets or ducts used on the aircraft or ground support equipment.
This industrial participation not only supports hundreds of high-tech jobs but also positions Belgium as an advanced manufacturing hub within Europe’s defense aerospace ecosystem. Materialise’s involvement exemplifies how additive manufacturing is being leveraged to reduce lead times and increase design flexibility for military-grade parts—a trend increasingly embraced across NATO supply chains.
Kleine-Brogel Air Base Prepares for Fifth Generation Integration
The first operational Belgian F-35As are expected to arrive at Kleine-Brogel Air Base starting mid-to-late 2025 after completion of pilot training and infrastructure upgrades. A second base—Florennes—is also being prepared for eventual basing as part of a dual-wing structure similar to other European operators like Italy or Norway.
Infrastructure modernization includes hardened shelters compatible with stealth coatings maintenance protocols (Low Observable Maintenance Facilities), upgraded runways with EMALS-rated arrestor gear compatibility testing (though not required for CTOL ops), secure mission planning centers with STANAG-compliant data links integration (Link 16/MADL gateways), and cyber-hardened networks compliant with NATO Federated Mission Networking standards.
Strategic Implications for European Deterrence Posture
The arrival of Belgian F-35s comes amid heightened tensions along NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. With forward-deployed U.S., Polish, Norwegian and soon German-operated Lightning IIs already conducting joint exercises near Kaliningrad or Romania’s Black Sea coastlines, Belgium’s contribution enhances both deterrence signaling and operational redundancy within Allied Joint Force Command structures.
The platform’s ability to integrate seamlessly with ISR assets like RQ-4 Global Hawks or MQ-9 Reapers—and cue long-range fires such as JASSM or Storm Shadow via digital targeting—makes it central to emerging multi-domain operations doctrines now being adopted across NATO commands under Allied Command Transformation initiatives.
Training Pipeline Accelerates Under U.S.-Belgian Partnership
Pilot conversion training is already underway at Luke AFB where Belgian pilots fly alongside counterparts from Denmark and Norway under a shared syllabus managed by USAF instructors. Each pilot undergoes approximately nine months of academic instruction followed by simulator time on Full Mission Simulators (FMS) before live flight operations on Block 4-configured aircraft begin.
The training pipeline includes:
- Mission Systems Familiarization: Sensor fusion workflows using AN/APG-81 radar + DAS + EOTS inputs
- Tactical Data Link Employment: MADL/Link16 integration drills during Red Flag-style exercises
- LO Signature Management: Maintenance awareness training on radar absorbent material care protocols
Future Outlook: Beyond Initial Operating Capability
Belgium aims to declare Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by late 2027 with Full Operational Capability (FOC) projected around 2030. Future upgrades via Block IV software increments will bring expanded weapons carriage options including AIM-120D3 AMRAAMs, GBU‑53/B SDB-II glide bombs with tri-mode seekers, improved EW capabilities through CNI suite enhancements—and potentially integration into future loyal wingman UAV concepts such as Skyborg or GCAP derivatives if interoperability standards are met.
Conclusion: Strategic Leap Anchored by Industrial Depth
The delivery of Belgium’s first F-35A marks more than just an aircraft handover—it reflects a strategic leap toward next-generation airpower integration within Europe while anchoring national industrial relevance through high-value participation in global supply chains. As geopolitical uncertainties persist across Europe’s periphery—from Kaliningrad to Sahel—the Lightning II offers both kinetic punch and digital interoperability essential for modern coalition warfare scenarios where speed-of-data is as critical as speed-of-flight.
