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Belgium's first F-35A arrives at Luke AFB as pilot training begins

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Belgium's first F-35A arrives at Luke AFB as pilot training begins
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Simple Flying | Simple Flying

The first Belgian F-35A Lightning II arrived at Luke Air Force Base on December 3, 2024. This event marks a significant step in Belgium's transition from the legacy F-16 Fighting Falcon to the advanced fifth-generation fighter. The F-35 Lightning II is widely regarded as a leading fifth-generation fighter jet, with numerous countries having placed orders for it.

The United States Air Force has announced that the initial group of Belgian pilots from the 312th Fighter Squadron is now at Luke AFB to commence their training. "Experienced Belgian pilots are also participating in the Simulator Subject-Matter Expert course," stated the Air Force. This course aims to equip them to "establish their own academic training center" upon returning to Belgium.

Lt. Col. Pierre-Yves Liber of the Belgian Air Component remarked, “It’s a historic day for the Belgian Air Component. Our first jet just landed at Luke AFB, marking the start of our training period. A lot of work has gone into making this moment possible, and we are excited to begin flying and complete our training.”

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Lockheed Martin had presented Belgium with its first F-35A fighter jet in December 2023 during a ceremony at its production facility. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered over 1,070 F-35s across various variants.

Belgium plans to acquire 34 F-35s and has agreed to donate some of its retiring F-16s to Ukraine, although these will not be delivered until 2028. More Belgian F-35As are expected at Luke AFB soon; however, achieving initial operating capability will take time due to the complexity involved in transitioning to this new aircraft.

In Europe, several nations have made strides toward integrating the F-35 into their fleets. The Netherlands has fully transitioned from its F-16s to the F-35. Romania recently confirmed an order for 24 units, while Poland's first intended unit completed its test flight successfully.

Around 3,000-4,000 units of the F-35 are projected for production globally, with the United States Air Force being its largest customer with plans for 1,763 units.

Other NATO countries have varied plans regarding their air force capabilities. Nations like Slovakia and Bulgaria are upgrading their fleets with advanced versions of older models like the F-16 Block 70/72. Portugal may soon place an order for the F-35 as well.

Spain might opt not to purchase it for its air force but could potentially acquire naval variants such as the F-35B in place of older models like AV-8B Harrier II jump jets.

Organizations Included in this History
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