Exclusive | Belgium confirms assembly of future F-35 fighter jets in Italy to balance US partnership and European production
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On May 7, 2025, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced that future F-35A fighter jets ordered by Belgium will be assembled in Italy at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) facility. This confirmation followed a meeting with Michael Williamson, the International President of Lockheed Martin, and his team. The agreement builds on a formal request made by Francken to his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto, on April 14, 2025.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Cameri Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO), located in northern Italy and operated by Leonardo in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, is currently the only F-35 assembly facility in Europe. (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)
The stated objective is to conduct final assembly of Belgian F-35s within Europe rather than in the United States, thereby anchoring a greater portion of Belgium’s defense procurement in the European industrial base and aligning with stated strategic and financial priorities. The decision is intended to support domestic and European industry, within the broader framework of Belgium’s evolving defense investment plan.
The Cameri Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO), located in northern Italy and operated by Leonardo in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, is currently the only F-35 assembly facility in Europe. It was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2014 as the regional Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade (MRO&U) center for F-35 airframes in Europe. The facility produced its first F-35A in 2015 and its first F-35B in 2018. It employs over 750 workers and also manufactures wing components for the global fleet at Leonardo plants in Foggia and Nola. The assembly line is already used by the Netherlands, and the U.S. has authorized European buyers to request production there. Though its production capacity is lower than Fort Worth, the cost per unit is reported to be similar. A key point still under review is whether aircraft assembled at Cameri would qualify as “European-made” under EU rules, which would influence Belgium’s ability to finance the acquisition under the EU’s defense-related borrowing allowances.
Belgium joined the F-35 program in 2018 under Defense Minister Steven Vandeput, who signed a €3.6 billion contract for 34 F-35As after a competitive selection process involving the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale. The selection was made based on price and seven evaluation criteria. The total program cost was later revised to €4 billion to include training, infrastructure, and maintenance through 2030. The F-35s will replace 54 aging F-16s, with 30 scheduled for transfer to Ukraine starting in 2026. As of early 2025, Belgium had received eight F-35s, produced at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant and stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for pilot and technician training. These aircraft are expected to arrive in Belgium in autumn 2025. To support their integration, €275 million is allocated for upgrades at Florennes and Kleine-Brogel air bases. These upgrades include hangars, simulators, maintenance facilities for six aircraft, 16 aircraft shelters, a Quick Reaction Alert area, and accommodation for personnel, funded within the military’s multi-year budget.
On April 23, 2025, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Minister Francken confirmed the decision to order up to 11 additional F-35As, bringing the total potential fleet size to 45. (Picture source: F-35A JPO)
Expected economic benefits from the 2018 procurement have not met initial projections. Then-Economy Minister Kris Peeters indicated the program would yield significant industrial returns. By mid-2022, however, Belgian industry contracts totaled only €700 million. A revised agreement signed in 2024 forecast economic returns of €66 million per year over 40 years, for a total of €2.7 billion, substantially less than the estimated €12.4 billion lifetime cost of the F-35 fleet. Minister Francken has stated that future purchases must include stronger offset agreements for Belgian companies. The transfer of final assembly to Cameri is intended to improve industrial participation in future production lots and support economic objectives through European collaboration.
On April 23, 2025, Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Minister Francken confirmed the decision to order up to 11 additional F-35As, bringing the total potential fleet size to 45. The confirmation was issued in Parliament and is part of a broader expansion of Belgium’s defense spending. The increased procurement is positioned as a response to the need for short-term capability, given that no alternative platform is available within the required timeframe. Francken has emphasized that the size of the Belgian Air Force does not justify the maintenance of two different fighter aircraft types. Consequently, future fighter acquisitions will remain limited to the F-35. The Belgian government has also recently approved the purchase of $115 million worth of GBU-53/B bombs to equip the aircraft.
Belgium’s defense budget was increased by €3.9 billion in 2025 through the Easter Agreement signed on April 11, enabling the country to meet NATO’s 2% of GDP benchmark four years ahead of the 2029 deadline. The government anticipates over €20 billion in additional defense investment over the next five years. The budget increase is financed through temporary sources, including dividends from the state-owned Belfius bank and proceeds from frozen Russian assets. Minister Francken stated that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to continue declining due to economic growth. He also noted that Belgium intends to use new EU rules that allow member states to borrow for defense purposes, if the expenditures are recognized as European in origin. Whether the aircraft assembled in Cameri will fulfill this requirement remains undecided and will influence the financing structure of future acquisitions.
The F-35 program includes multiple European and non-European participants. The United Kingdom is the only Level 1 partner and contributes the vertical lift system, software, and ejection seat components for the F-35B variant. Leonardo in Italy produces wing assemblies for the global fleet, while a joint venture between Rheinmetall and Northrop Grumman in Germany is developing a fuselage assembly line for up to 400 aircraft. Other contributors include Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia. According to Deputy Prime Minister Peeters, 30% of the aircraft’s components are sourced from European firms. These contributions form part of the rationale behind Belgium’s argument that the aircraft has substantial European content.
According to Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Peeters, 30% of the F-35 fighter jet’s components are sourced from European firms. (Picture source: F-35A Demonstration Team)
Public concerns in Belgium and other European countries regarding operational autonomy and U.S. control over the F-35’s software have periodically surfaced. These concerns include speculation about the existence of a so-called “kill switch.” On March 10, 2025, Minister Francken described such claims as an “urban legend” in an interview with VRT. He affirmed that Belgian F-35s can operate independently for at least a month using internal reserves and components sourced from international logistics pools. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that daily operational use does not require real-time oversight from the U.S. Francken also indicated that logistical autonomy is built into the multinational support framework of the program.
In 2023, Belgium temporarily rejected delivery of two F-35s due to software and display issues. Despite these challenges, the government has maintained its commitment to the program. The continuation was based on operational need and the advanced state of the acquisition. Both Francken and De Wever have confirmed that Belgium supports the European sixth-generation fighter project (SCAF) and has contributed €60 million to its development. However, its projected delivery after 2040 renders it incompatible with Belgium’s immediate needs. For the current planning horizon, only the F-35 is considered a viable platform.
Belgium’s strategic role within NATO, including hosting the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) in Mons, contributes to the requirement for interoperable and up-to-date air capabilities. The government’s current position rules out reconsideration of other platforms, including the Rafale and Gripen, which had been previously evaluated. Prime Minister De Wever has emphasized that Belgium views the F-35 not as an exclusively American platform, but as a product of a multilateral industrial structure. He also stated that the program’s future is not dependent on U.S. political dynamics, citing international contributions and integrated supply chains as core to its sustainability.
Beyond fighter aircraft, Belgium’s defense strategy includes modernization efforts across multiple domains. Potential future acquisitions include multiple rocket launchers, tanks, and secure communications systems. The upcoming NATO summit in The Hague is expected to include discussions about new defense spending thresholds of up to 3% or more of GDP. Minister Francken has indicated that the current budget increase is a first step and that further adjustments may follow depending on alliance decisions. In this context, final assembly of the F-35 in Italy is presented as a way to align defense procurement with European industrial objectives, optimize economic returns, and facilitate access to defense-related EU financing mechanisms.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On May 7, 2025, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced that future F-35A fighter jets ordered by Belgium will be assembled in Italy at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) facility. This confirmation followed a meeting with Michael Williamson, the International President of Lockheed Martin, and his team. The agreement builds on a formal request made by Francken to his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto, on April 14, 2025.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Cameri Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO), located in northern Italy and operated by Leonardo in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, is currently the only F-35 assembly facility in Europe. (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)
The stated objective is to conduct final assembly of Belgian F-35s within Europe rather than in the United States, thereby anchoring a greater portion of Belgium’s defense procurement in the European industrial base and aligning with stated strategic and financial priorities. The decision is intended to support domestic and European industry, within the broader framework of Belgium’s evolving defense investment plan.
The Cameri Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO), located in northern Italy and operated by Leonardo in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, is currently the only F-35 assembly facility in Europe. It was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2014 as the regional Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade (MRO&U) center for F-35 airframes in Europe. The facility produced its first F-35A in 2015 and its first F-35B in 2018. It employs over 750 workers and also manufactures wing components for the global fleet at Leonardo plants in Foggia and Nola. The assembly line is already used by the Netherlands, and the U.S. has authorized European buyers to request production there. Though its production capacity is lower than Fort Worth, the cost per unit is reported to be similar. A key point still under review is whether aircraft assembled at Cameri would qualify as “European-made” under EU rules, which would influence Belgium’s ability to finance the acquisition under the EU’s defense-related borrowing allowances.
Belgium joined the F-35 program in 2018 under Defense Minister Steven Vandeput, who signed a €3.6 billion contract for 34 F-35As after a competitive selection process involving the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale. The selection was made based on price and seven evaluation criteria. The total program cost was later revised to €4 billion to include training, infrastructure, and maintenance through 2030. The F-35s will replace 54 aging F-16s, with 30 scheduled for transfer to Ukraine starting in 2026. As of early 2025, Belgium had received eight F-35s, produced at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant and stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for pilot and technician training. These aircraft are expected to arrive in Belgium in autumn 2025. To support their integration, €275 million is allocated for upgrades at Florennes and Kleine-Brogel air bases. These upgrades include hangars, simulators, maintenance facilities for six aircraft, 16 aircraft shelters, a Quick Reaction Alert area, and accommodation for personnel, funded within the military’s multi-year budget.
On April 23, 2025, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Minister Francken confirmed the decision to order up to 11 additional F-35As, bringing the total potential fleet size to 45. (Picture source: F-35A JPO)
Expected economic benefits from the 2018 procurement have not met initial projections. Then-Economy Minister Kris Peeters indicated the program would yield significant industrial returns. By mid-2022, however, Belgian industry contracts totaled only €700 million. A revised agreement signed in 2024 forecast economic returns of €66 million per year over 40 years, for a total of €2.7 billion, substantially less than the estimated €12.4 billion lifetime cost of the F-35 fleet. Minister Francken has stated that future purchases must include stronger offset agreements for Belgian companies. The transfer of final assembly to Cameri is intended to improve industrial participation in future production lots and support economic objectives through European collaboration.
On April 23, 2025, Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Minister Francken confirmed the decision to order up to 11 additional F-35As, bringing the total potential fleet size to 45. The confirmation was issued in Parliament and is part of a broader expansion of Belgium’s defense spending. The increased procurement is positioned as a response to the need for short-term capability, given that no alternative platform is available within the required timeframe. Francken has emphasized that the size of the Belgian Air Force does not justify the maintenance of two different fighter aircraft types. Consequently, future fighter acquisitions will remain limited to the F-35. The Belgian government has also recently approved the purchase of $115 million worth of GBU-53/B bombs to equip the aircraft.
Belgium’s defense budget was increased by €3.9 billion in 2025 through the Easter Agreement signed on April 11, enabling the country to meet NATO’s 2% of GDP benchmark four years ahead of the 2029 deadline. The government anticipates over €20 billion in additional defense investment over the next five years. The budget increase is financed through temporary sources, including dividends from the state-owned Belfius bank and proceeds from frozen Russian assets. Minister Francken stated that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to continue declining due to economic growth. He also noted that Belgium intends to use new EU rules that allow member states to borrow for defense purposes, if the expenditures are recognized as European in origin. Whether the aircraft assembled in Cameri will fulfill this requirement remains undecided and will influence the financing structure of future acquisitions.
The F-35 program includes multiple European and non-European participants. The United Kingdom is the only Level 1 partner and contributes the vertical lift system, software, and ejection seat components for the F-35B variant. Leonardo in Italy produces wing assemblies for the global fleet, while a joint venture between Rheinmetall and Northrop Grumman in Germany is developing a fuselage assembly line for up to 400 aircraft. Other contributors include Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia. According to Deputy Prime Minister Peeters, 30% of the aircraft’s components are sourced from European firms. These contributions form part of the rationale behind Belgium’s argument that the aircraft has substantial European content.
According to Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Peeters, 30% of the F-35 fighter jet’s components are sourced from European firms. (Picture source: F-35A Demonstration Team)
Public concerns in Belgium and other European countries regarding operational autonomy and U.S. control over the F-35’s software have periodically surfaced. These concerns include speculation about the existence of a so-called “kill switch.” On March 10, 2025, Minister Francken described such claims as an “urban legend” in an interview with VRT. He affirmed that Belgian F-35s can operate independently for at least a month using internal reserves and components sourced from international logistics pools. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that daily operational use does not require real-time oversight from the U.S. Francken also indicated that logistical autonomy is built into the multinational support framework of the program.
In 2023, Belgium temporarily rejected delivery of two F-35s due to software and display issues. Despite these challenges, the government has maintained its commitment to the program. The continuation was based on operational need and the advanced state of the acquisition. Both Francken and De Wever have confirmed that Belgium supports the European sixth-generation fighter project (SCAF) and has contributed €60 million to its development. However, its projected delivery after 2040 renders it incompatible with Belgium’s immediate needs. For the current planning horizon, only the F-35 is considered a viable platform.
Belgium’s strategic role within NATO, including hosting the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) in Mons, contributes to the requirement for interoperable and up-to-date air capabilities. The government’s current position rules out reconsideration of other platforms, including the Rafale and Gripen, which had been previously evaluated. Prime Minister De Wever has emphasized that Belgium views the F-35 not as an exclusively American platform, but as a product of a multilateral industrial structure. He also stated that the program’s future is not dependent on U.S. political dynamics, citing international contributions and integrated supply chains as core to its sustainability.
Beyond fighter aircraft, Belgium’s defense strategy includes modernization efforts across multiple domains. Potential future acquisitions include multiple rocket launchers, tanks, and secure communications systems. The upcoming NATO summit in The Hague is expected to include discussions about new defense spending thresholds of up to 3% or more of GDP. Minister Francken has indicated that the current budget increase is a first step and that further adjustments may follow depending on alliance decisions. In this context, final assembly of the F-35 in Italy is presented as a way to align defense procurement with European industrial objectives, optimize economic returns, and facilitate access to defense-related EU financing mechanisms.
