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The Belgian government has welcomed the country’s first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet aircraft during an official rollout ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility.
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The welcome event for the AY-01 designated aircraft is a significant milestone for the Belgian Air Component, which primarily operates F-16A Fighting Falcon fighters, and the country itself, which is a key NATO ally in the region.
Senior government and military leaders from Belgium and the United States attended the ceremony ahead of the country’s full order, which includes a total of 34 F-35A aircraft delivered next year and based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for international F-35 pilot and maintainer training.
“The introduction of the F-35 within the Belgian Air Force will enable us to continue to fulfil all our missions in the coming decades, in cooperation with our allies and partners in NATO, the European Union and beyond,” according to the chief of defence for the Belgian Armed Forces, Admiral Michel Hofman.
The addition is expected to create high-quality, long-term employment opportunities for Belgium and align with Essential Security Interest (ESI) program as Lockheed Martin supports the expansion of the Belgian industry’s skills and knowledge base.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive vice-president Greg Ulmer said the F-35 will provide the next generation of air power to ensure the Belgian Air Force can fulfil its NATO missions and protect the alliance’s key interests.
“With its unmatched capability, connectivity and interoperability, the fifth-generation F-35 will enable the Belgian Air Force to stay ahead of threats for decades to come,” he said.
“Today’s milestone would not have been possible without the strong partnership and key contributions from our close partners in Belgian government and industry.”
Building on the strong legacy of the F-16, the F-35 will connect assets across domains to increase situational awareness for Belgium and its key European partners, he said.
“We congratulate Belgium on this significant achievement,” according to F-35 Joint Program Office program executive officer Lieutenant General Mike Schmidt.
“The growth of the F-35 in Europe strengthens international partnerships, interoperability, and warfighting capability; and emphasises the importance the aircraft provides as a deterrent against potential adversaries.”
F-35s are now operating from 31 bases worldwide, and Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 980 F-35s and trained more than 2,250 pilots and 15,125 maintainers, while the F-35 fleet has surpassed 768,000 cumulative flight hours.
