Key Factors: Belgium’s integration of the F-35A Lightning II into its Air Part marks a brand new period within the nation’s protection capabilities.
-The third F-35A (AY-03) not too long ago accomplished its inaugural flight, whereas Belgian pilots started coaching at Luke Air Pressure Base, Arizona.
-Belgium plans to accumulate 34 F-35s, changing its growing old F-16s by 2030. These plane will characteristic the Know-how Refresh 3 (TR-3) improve, enabling future enhancements below the Block 4 configuration.
-Belgian F-35s will be part of NATO allies like Denmark and the Netherlands, supporting air policing and different alliance missions, whereas surplus F-16s will bolster Ukraine’s protection.
Belgian Pilots Start Coaching on Superior F-35 Lightning II Fighters
Earlier this yr, Belgium’s third F-35A, designated AY-03, made its inaugural flight, taking off and returning to Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Price, Texas. The plane was adorned with a barely muted black, yellow, purple Belgian nationwide flag and equally coloured roundels. It adopted the instance of Danish and Polish F-35s, which additionally featured extra subdued or low-visibility nationwide markings.
It was the most recent milestone for the fifth-generation stealth fighter – and greater than 1,000 have been delivered to the U.S. navy and its allies and companions worldwide.
Belgium pilots have now arrived at Luke Air Pressure Base (AFB), Arizona, and will likely be coaching on the fifth-generation plane.
“It’s a historic day for the Belgian Air Part,” mentioned Belgian Air Part Lt. Col. Pierre-Yves Libert, 312th Fighter Squadron senior nationwide consultant. “Our first jet simply landed at Luke AFB, marking the beginning of our coaching interval. Lots of work has gone into making this second potential and we’re excited to start flying and full our coaching.”
The Benelux nation’s program of report for the multirole F-35 requires 34 of the plane, with extra Lightning IIs arriving at Luke AFB within the coming months. Although manufacturing and supply of the plane have been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brussels is anticipated to obtain its full order of F-35s by 2030.
Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK are already among the many NATO members that function the fifth-generation fighter. Finland, Germany, Greece, and Poland have additionally ordered jets. Lockheed Martin expects Europe to have about 500 F-35s by the last decade’s finish.
F-35 Lightning II demonstration group members dash to their positions through the floor present on the Defenders of Liberty Air & House Present at Barksdale Air Pressure Base, La., Might 17, 2019. The group’s floor present consists of pre-flight inspections with sharp, quick-paced actions that showcase the pleasure and professionalism of the U.S. Air Pressure. (U.S. Air Pressure photograph by Senior Airman Alexander Prepare dinner)
A number of NATO allies are actually integrating their F-35s into the alliance’s air policing missions, and that features the Royal Netherlands Air Pressure, which started to hold out the flights earlier this yr.
In With the New
The primary Belgian F-35 rolled off the meeting line on December 10, 2023. The primary plane, designated AY-01, has undergone important testing. The primary operational F-35s are actually set to reach at Florennes Air Base someday subsequent yr, whereas a second squadron will likely be primarily based out of Kleine-Brogel starting in 2027.
Because the fifth-gen fighters arrive in Europe, the Belgian Air Pressure will retire its growing old F-16 Preventing Falcons, which it first adopted in 1979. The Lockheed Martin plane was chosen over different choices, notably the Eurofighter Hurricane.
Antwerp has introduced it would ship quite a few its upgraded F-16s to assist Ukraine’s warfare effort. It was practically a yr in the past that Washington gave the inexperienced mild for Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway to offer the Preventing Falcon to Ukraine. Mixed, the NATO alliance members pledged to offer no less than 79 of the multirole fighters. The primary of the upgraded fourth-generation plane arrived earlier this yr.
The Most Succesful F-35s
Earlier than any of Belgium’s Lightning II truly journey to Europe, every plane will likely be upgraded with the Know-how Refresh 3 configuration, a necessary step for future enhancements to the fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter.
TR-3 contains each {hardware} and software program enhancements and has been described as a serious part for the much more intensive replace to the F-35, its “Block 4” model that might add a number of dozen new capabilities. There had been a delay in finishing the TR-3 refresh, however earlier this yr, the Pentagon agreed to simply accept F-35s with a “truncated” model of the improve. That allowed Lockheed Martin to renew deliveries – together with to U.S. companions.
Belgium was among the many nations that needed to wait a bit of longer for its F-35s, however this system is reported to be on observe, with plane being delivered to shoppers quicker than ever.
An F-35A Lightning II from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Pressure Base, Alaska, flies behind a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Area Air Nationwide Guard Base, Kansas, over the Indo-Pacific, March 10, 2022. Aircrews routinely fly missions geared toward sharpening the mandatory abilities wanted to reply to rising conditions at a second’s discover. (U.S. Air Pressure photograph by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)
In regards to the Writer: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Senior Editor specializing in protection points for 19FortyFive. He has contributed to greater than 4 dozen magazines, newspapers, and web sites with over 3,500 printed items over a twenty-year profession in journalism. He commonly writes about navy {hardware}, firearms historical past, cybersecurity, politics, and worldwide affairs. Peter can also be a Contributing Author for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You may comply with him on X: @PeterSuciu – and on Bluesky: @petersuciu.bsky.social.
