Breaking News: Belgium May Acquire 21 more F-35A Fighters to Fulfill NATO Defense Requirements
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According to information published by De Morgen on June 2, 2025, the Belgian government is preparing to finalize a strategic order for 21 additional F-35A fighter aircraft, bringing its total fleet to 55 units. This move is part of a broader €36 billion investment plan aimed at modernizing the country’s armed forces by 2035. Scheduled ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, the decision is intended to demonstrate Belgium’s commitment to meeting Alliance standards, particularly the target of allocating 2% of GDP to defense spending, amid growing geopolitical tensions with Russia.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The first Belgian Air Component F-35A Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Dec. 3, 2024 (Picture source: US DoD)
The initial order of 34 F-35As, signed in 2018 to replace the aging F-16 fleet, now marks a full transition to a fifth-generation fighter capability. The F-35A is a multirole stealth aircraft with conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) capabilities, designed for missions such as air superiority, precision strikes, reconnaissance, close air support, and electronic warfare. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine producing up to 43,000 pounds of thrust, enabling speeds up to Mach 1.6 and altitudes exceeding 15,000 meters, with an operational range of 2,220 km. Its stealth design and integrated weapon systems allow it to operate in contested environments with reduced detection risk.
Each aircraft is equipped with an AN/APG-81 AESA radar, an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), and a Distributed Aperture System (DAS) providing 360-degree infrared surveillance. The pilot uses a Helmet-Mounted Display System (HMDS) that projects mission data directly onto the visor. The F-35A is armed with an internal 20mm M61A2 cannon, AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, and precision-guided air-to-ground munitions such as GBU-31 JDAM, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, and AGM-88 HARM missiles for targeting enemy air defense systems. The aircraft also features an integrated electronic warfare suite and secure data links for coordination with allied forces and defense against radar and missile threats.
Approximately €5 billion from Belgium’s defense plan will be dedicated to this air capability, covering future software upgrades (including the transition to Block 4 standard), long-term maintenance, support infrastructure, and participation in a European project for independent management of F-35 data systems. This initiative is aimed at reducing dependency on the United States and aligns with a broader strategic objective of technological sovereignty. To ease political concerns within the ruling coalition, Belgium secured a commitment that the additional aircraft would be assembled in Italy, reinforcing the European dimension of the program.
The remainder of the military investment plan includes initiatives across other components: the formation of a second motorized brigade in cooperation with France, acquisition of a third naval combat vessel, re-establishment of an air defense capability through ten NASAMS batteries, and expanded efforts in cybersecurity. These areas will be addressed through separate contracts in the coming months, each tailored to specific capability objectives.
With the additional F-35A order, Belgium is taking a significant step in the transformation of its armed forces. This air component of the Francken plan reflects a deliberate adaptation to NATO operational requirements at a time when evolving security conditions in Europe demand coordinated and credible responses.
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According to information published by De Morgen on June 2, 2025, the Belgian government is preparing to finalize a strategic order for 21 additional F-35A fighter aircraft, bringing its total fleet to 55 units. This move is part of a broader €36 billion investment plan aimed at modernizing the country’s armed forces by 2035. Scheduled ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, the decision is intended to demonstrate Belgium’s commitment to meeting Alliance standards, particularly the target of allocating 2% of GDP to defense spending, amid growing geopolitical tensions with Russia.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The first Belgian Air Component F-35A Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Dec. 3, 2024 (Picture source: US DoD)
The initial order of 34 F-35As, signed in 2018 to replace the aging F-16 fleet, now marks a full transition to a fifth-generation fighter capability. The F-35A is a multirole stealth aircraft with conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) capabilities, designed for missions such as air superiority, precision strikes, reconnaissance, close air support, and electronic warfare. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine producing up to 43,000 pounds of thrust, enabling speeds up to Mach 1.6 and altitudes exceeding 15,000 meters, with an operational range of 2,220 km. Its stealth design and integrated weapon systems allow it to operate in contested environments with reduced detection risk.
Each aircraft is equipped with an AN/APG-81 AESA radar, an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), and a Distributed Aperture System (DAS) providing 360-degree infrared surveillance. The pilot uses a Helmet-Mounted Display System (HMDS) that projects mission data directly onto the visor. The F-35A is armed with an internal 20mm M61A2 cannon, AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, and precision-guided air-to-ground munitions such as GBU-31 JDAM, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, and AGM-88 HARM missiles for targeting enemy air defense systems. The aircraft also features an integrated electronic warfare suite and secure data links for coordination with allied forces and defense against radar and missile threats.
Approximately €5 billion from Belgium’s defense plan will be dedicated to this air capability, covering future software upgrades (including the transition to Block 4 standard), long-term maintenance, support infrastructure, and participation in a European project for independent management of F-35 data systems. This initiative is aimed at reducing dependency on the United States and aligns with a broader strategic objective of technological sovereignty. To ease political concerns within the ruling coalition, Belgium secured a commitment that the additional aircraft would be assembled in Italy, reinforcing the European dimension of the program.
The remainder of the military investment plan includes initiatives across other components: the formation of a second motorized brigade in cooperation with France, acquisition of a third naval combat vessel, re-establishment of an air defense capability through ten NASAMS batteries, and expanded efforts in cybersecurity. These areas will be addressed through separate contracts in the coming months, each tailored to specific capability objectives.
With the additional F-35A order, Belgium is taking a significant step in the transformation of its armed forces. This air component of the Francken plan reflects a deliberate adaptation to NATO operational requirements at a time when evolving security conditions in Europe demand coordinated and credible responses.
