Belgium muscle its aviation!

On this Belgian National Day, the country confirms its future aviation acquisitions.

F-35A Belgian in the USA @ fab

In accordance with what has been planned for several belgium muscle its aviation! months, the Belgian air force will receive 11 Combat Lockheed Martin F-35A planes, thus strengthening its fleet planned for 45 aircraft.

To replace the 54 F-16s, the latter having to be retired in 2028.

The Minister of Defense Theo Francken announced these plans after obtaining parliamentary approval from the strategic vision plan aimed at investing more in the security of the country by increasing defense expenses to the equivalent of 2 % of GDP in 2025 and by increasing them regularly to 2.5 % in the 2030s. Meanwhile, According to the strategic vision document, the increase in the number of F-35, supported by funding by 1.6 billion euros ($ 1.8 billion), will help Belgium meet NATO capacity needs.

“NATO expects Belgium to exceed its initial commitment of 34 planes and further strengthen its air combat capacity”, Indicate the document. Consequently, “In an international context characterized by the increase in geopolitical tensions. the acceleration of the development of technological threats, this need for capacity building was further increased in 2025.”

The air force has already received 8 F-35 in the United States which are used for the moment to instruct pilots and ground staff. As part of the fleet development effort. Belgium will establish partnerships with other European F-35 operators and acquire an additional mission planning installation. Belgium also reserves funds for the development of team capacity with crew. without crew, thus opening the way to the Belgian F-35 to operate with unleashed platforms such as collaborative combat aircraft.

The document confirms that the country will continue to follow the development of the FCAS with France, Germany and Spain. Brussels hopes to be able to play a more important role in the future in the project according to. the progress of the project. To do this. Belgium provisioned a sum of 300 million euros to allow them to participate as a full-fledged partner in the next development phase, phase 2, currently scheduled for the period 2026-2030, which will lead to a series of demonstration programs. The document indicates that Brussels will ask the countries of the FCAS to consider Belgium as a full partner of the program. once the current problems of distributions have been settled.

In parallel, the country works to study a combined fleet of F-35 and FCAS beyond 2040.

The country should soon launch a double acquisition for a medium -sized passenger transport aircraft with average radius of action, so that the Air Force can avoid using the Airbus A400M when the number of freight or passengers does not require it. There will also be two new VIP business aircraft to replace two Dassault Falcon 7x business aircraft rented in Luxaviation.