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

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.