Only three of first four F-35s reach Belgium after technical issue delays one jet

Belgium officially welcomed its first three F-35 Lightning II fighter jets (tail numbers FL 009, FL010 and FL012) today at Florennes Air Base, in a ceremony attended by King Philippe and Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA). A fourth aircraft, originally scheduled to arrive alongside them, was grounded in the Azores due to a technical issue.

The four F-35s departed Fort Worth, Texas, last week, where Lockheed Martin produces the aircraft. After a successful mid-air refuelling operation en route, the formation stopped in the Azores for refuelling and checks. One aircraft — tail number FL011 — remained behind after engineers identified a “technical uncertainty regarding its flying capabilities,” the Ministry of Defence confirmed.

Major General Geert De Decker, Commander of the Belgian Air Force, emphasised that the decision reflected the armed forces’ strict adherence to safety protocols: “When there’s doubt, there’s no doubt.”

The three F-35s that landed in Belgium mark a milestone in the country’s defence modernisation programme. However, they are not the first Belgian aircraft to take flight — eight F-35s are already stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where they are being used to train Belgian pilots.

Belgium’s new 5th-generation F-35s will replace the ageing F-16 fleet, offering advanced stealth, surveillance, and multi-mission capabilities that significantly enhance the country’s air defence and NATO interoperability.