The fourth Belgian F-35 fighter jet has arrived at Florennes Air Base, completing the first group of four aircraft to be based in Belgium, the Ministry of Defence announced.
The jet landed Friday afternoon after a stopover in the Azores, following its transatlantic transfer from Fort Worth, Texas. It had been delayed due to a technical issue that prevented it from joining the first three F-35s, which arrived about ten days earlier.
“With this arrival, the first group of four Belgian F-35s is now complete,” the ministry confirmed.
Belgium currently operates eight F-35s from Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where Belgian pilots are undergoing training. The integration of the F-35 marks a key milestone in the modernisation of the Belgian Air Force, replacing the ageing F-16 fleet after four decades of service.
Belgium has ordered 34 F-35s from Lockheed Martin for €4.5 billion, with the government recently approving the purchase of 11 additional aircraft.