As part of its ongoing efforts to upgrade national defense, Belgium has announced the acquisition of 11 more F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft. The purchase, valued at 1.5 billion euros, was officially confirmed by Defence Minister Theo Francken.
With this latest addition, Belgium’s total F-35 order rises to 45 aircraft. The country has already received eight jets, with a ninth expected to arrive by autumn. The first Belgian F-35 was rolled out from Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth in 2023.
This major procurement follows Belgium’s 2018 decision to replace its aging F-16s with the advanced American-built F-35s. The initiative reflects Belgium’s commitment to NATO defense standards and air power modernization, with all 45 jets expected to be operational by 2031.
