Belgium has committed to purchasing 11 more F-35 fighter jets, reinforcing its defense modernization strategy and increasing its total order to 45 aircraft.
Defence Minister Theo Francken confirmed the €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) acquisition, with the latest batch expected to enhance the country’s air combat capabilities under NATO standards.
So far, eight jets have been completed, and the ninth is set for delivery this autumn. Lockheed Martin produced Belgium’s first F-35 at its Fort Worth, Texas facility in 2023.
Originally announced in 2018 as a replacement for its aging F-16 fleet, the full fleet of F-35s is planned to be fully operational by 2031.
