Belgium will officially welcome its first F-35A Lightning II fighters on October 13, 2025, marking what the Belgian Ministry of Defense described as “the beginning of a strategic transformation” of the Belgian Air Component.
The first four aircraft are scheduled to touch down at Florennes Air Base at 15:00 local time (13:00 UTC), in the presence of Belgian officials, military personnel, and local media.
The arrival ceremony will be broadcast live on the Belgian Ministry of Defense’s official YouTube channel, allowing the public to follow the event as the jets arrive over Florennes for the first time.
The aircraft were ferried directly from the United States, where Belgian pilots have been training for several months at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The F-35s will now begin operational evaluation and integration ahead of their entry into service next year.
Belgium ordered 34 F-35A fighters in 2018 to replace its F-16 fleet, later opting to expand the order to 45 aircraft in total. The new jets are set to be based at Florennes and Kleine-Brogel, with full replacement of the F-16 expected by 2028.
From training in Arizona to Belgian skies
Belgium’s transition to the F-35 has been years in the making. The first Belgian aircraft were delivered to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, in December 2024, where they have been used to train Belgian pilots and maintenance personnel with the US Air Force 312th Fighter Squadron. The training program is essential, not only for building operational experience but also for preparing future instructors who will eventually train new pilots in Belgium.
The Belgian Ministry of Defense emphasized that infrastructure upgrades at Florennes and Kleine-Brogel were made to accommodate the new jets and their advanced maintenance requirements.
Belgium expects to achieve Initial Operational Capability with the F-35 in 2027, ahead of full fleet integration the following year. Over the coming months, the first Belgian-based aircraft will undergo operational testing and systems verification, while pilots returning from Luke AFB begin familiarization flights over Belgian airspace.
Delivery delays and technical challenges
The road to this point has not been without setbacks. In late 2023, Belgium temporarily refused delivery of two F-35As, due to technical non-compliance issues related to software certification. The decision delayed the handover schedule and required adjustments to be made to pilot training and logistics planning.
Belgian defense officials later confirmed that the issues had been resolved and that deliveries resumed under stricter quality control procedures. The government has since reiterated that it will maintain high standards of acceptance despite program pressures.
Strategic timing as F-16s head to Ukraine
The milestone comes as Belgium prepares to phase out its F-16 fleet and transfer part of it to Ukraine. The Netherlands recently completed its own transfer of 24 F-16s, and Belgium has pledged to follow suit once its F-35s reach operational readiness.
Under current plans, Belgium aims to donate up to 30 F-16s to Ukraine by 2028, starting with two airframes for spares this year and two operational jets in 2026. Prime Minister Bart De Wever has insisted that “there will be no Belgian delays” in delivering the promised aircraft once the F-35 program is fully on track.
