The Belgian Air Force has officially welcomed its first F-35A Lightning II to Florennes Air Base, joining the growing European “wall of F-35s.”
Belgium’s first F-35A Lightning II to be permanently stationed in the country landed today at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, marking a major milestone in the nation’s transition to the 5th generation fighter. The arrival ceremony, hosted by the Belgian Air Force and attended by Lockheed Martin delegates, celebrated the aircraft’s official incorporation into Belgian operations.
According to a report by VRT News, four Belgian F-35As departed last week from Fort Worth, Texas, where Lockheed Martin manufactures the fighter, for their transatlantic journey to Belgium. During the crossing, the aircraft refueled mid-air and later made a stopover in Lajes, Azores. Three of the four aircraft then continued to Belgium, while one jet, FL011, was left behind due to what the Belgian Ministry of Defence described as “technical uncertainty regarding its flying capabilities.”
The arrival of the first F-35s was streamed live on Youtube by the Belgian MOD.
At a press conference, Major General Geert De Decker, Commander of the Belgian Air Force, said the decision reflected the service’s strong safety culture. “When there’s doubt, there’s no doubt,” he explained.
The aircraft that landed at Florennes today are not the first examples out of the Belgian order. Eight F-35s sporting Belgian Air Force markings are already stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, since December 2024, where F-35 international customers’ pilot and maintainer training takes place and where Belgian Air Force pilots will conduct initial training before redeployment to Europe.
“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. “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. “With the F-35, Belgium is acquiring a fifth-generation fighter jet, a flying weapons platform capable of carrying out multiple missions in a single flight.”
“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 of 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.”
The F-35A replaces Belgium’s long-serving F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet, which has been operational since the late 1970s. The transition marks a significant leap in capability, introducing stealth, sensor fusion and networked warfare features to Belgian and NATO air operations.
Including the aircraft delivered in-country, Belgium has now received 11 of its planned 34 F-35A aircraft. In July 2025, the Belgian government announced its intent to procure 11 additional F-35A jets, bringing the total to 45 aircraft. Florennes Air Base, once the headquarters of NATO TLP Programme, will host the first operational squadron, followed later by Kleine-Brogel Air Base.
