A NATO Warbird: Belgium is Now Operating the F-35 Fighter

Summary: Belgium's third F-35A, designated AY-03, has completed its first flight, advancing the country's transition to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II for its air force.

-The aircraft, featuring subdued Belgian national markings, will join Belgium's fleet of F-35s, replacing the aging F-16 Fighting Falcons.

-These new fighters, currently undergoing testing in the U.S., will be upgraded with the Technology Refresh 3 configuration before arriving in Belgium. Belgium's F-35s will bolster NATO's air power, with full integration expected by 2030.

Belgium's New F-35 Fighters: A Leap Forward for NATO

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II continues on its path to becoming a fully fledged NATO warbird. 

Belgium's third F-35A, designated AY-03, completed its inaugural flight from the aerospace giant's facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The aircraft was adorned with a slightly muted black, yellow, and red Belgian national flag and similarly colored roundels. It followed the example of Danish and Polish F-35s, which also featured more subdued or low-visibility national markings.

The Belgian Air Force’s first F-35 fighters are now undergoing engine and flight testing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. According to The Aviationist, the first F-35 is planned to arrive in Belgium in 2025 at Florennes Air Base. The stealth fighter will also be based out of Kleine-Brogel beginning in 2027.

Before the aircraft actually travel to Europe, they will be upgraded with the Technology Refresh 3 configuration, an essential step for future enhancements to the fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter.

In 2018, the Belgian government announced it would acquire thirty-four F-35A Lightning II jets to replace its aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons, which had been in service with the Belgian Air Force for almost four decades. The Lockheed Martin aircraft was selected over other options, notably the Eurofighter Typhoon. Though production and delivery of the aircraft has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Brussels is expected to receive its full order of F-35s by 2030.

"Building on the strong legacy of the F-16, the F-35 will provide the next generation of air power to ensure the Belgian Air Force can fulfill its NATO missions and protect the alliance's key interests. By serving as the most advanced 21st Century Security solution, the F-35 will connect assets across domains to increase situational awareness for Belgium and its key European partners," Lockheed Martin announced via a press release. 

Protecting NATO's Airspace

Though it will be at least another year before Belgium's F-35s are flying from Florennes, the Royal Netherlands Air Force's F-35 Lightning IIs are already protecting the airspace of the Benelux nations and serving as Quick Reaction Alert aircraft.

Multiple NATO allies are now integrating their F-35s into the alliance's air policing missions. The Royal Netherlands Air Force flew their F-35s in Poland in 2023, and Bulgaria in 2022.

The fifth-generation fighter is already operated by Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Finland, Germany, Greece, and Poland have also ordered jets. Lockheed Martin expects Europe to have about 500 F-35s by the decade's end.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.