Belgium celebrates Rollout of First F-35A Multirole Fighter Jet.

On December 10, 2023, a significant event unfolded in the history of the Belgian Air Force: the official presentation of Belgium's first F-35A Lightning II. The rollout ceremony, held at Lockheed Martin's F-35 production facility, not only underscored an important milestone for the Belgian Armed Forces but also strengthened the alliance between the United States and Belgium, a key NATO ally.

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  F-35 will ensure that the Belgian Air Force can fulfill its NATO missions and protect the alliance's key interests. (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

Admiral Michel Hofman, Chief of Defense of the Belgian Armed Forces, expressed his enthusiasm at the event: "The introduction of the F-35 into the Belgian Air Force will enable us to continue to fulfill all our missions in the coming decades, in cooperation with our allies and partners in NATO, the EU, and beyond."

Taking over from the F-16, the F-35 will ensure that the Belgian Air Force can fulfill its NATO missions and protect the alliance's key interests. As the most advanced 21st-century security solution, the F-35 will connect assets across different domains to enhance situational awareness for Belgium and its key European partners.

This program represents not only a military advancement but also an economic driver. Thanks to Lockheed Martin's Essential Security Interest (ESI) program, state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques will be brought to Belgium, broadening the skills and knowledge of the Belgian industry and providing high-tech jobs for Belgians for decades to come.

The Belgian program calls for the acquisition of 34 F-35As. The first aircraft, designated AY-01, will be delivered to the Belgian Air Force next year. In the meantime, it will be based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where training for pilots and maintenance technicians of F-35 international customers takes place.

Senior government and military leaders from Belgium and the United States attended the ceremony, underscoring the significance of this event for bilateral relations and collective defense within NATO.