Belgium boosts F-35A order to 45 with 11 new stealth fighters as Europe rearms
July 22, 2025
Belgium has become the latest country to commit to purchasing extra Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighters, bringing its total future fleet to 45. The first eight Belgian F-35As have been built, and Belgian Air Force pilots are due to start training with them.
Belgium to purchase another 11 F-35A stealth fighters
Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade, Theo Francken, stated on X that the Low Country will purchase another eleven F-35s in addition to those already contracted for. This confirmed rumours that had been circulating for weeks that the country was moving to purchase more of the 5th-generation fighters.
Francken posted, “We’re gonna buy 11 extra F-35s, the best fighter jets of the world. They will be produced in Italy.”
Italy’s Cameri is home to one of three final assembly and checkout facilities for the F-35. Another is in Japan, and the main one is in Fort Worth, Texas. Francken did not provide more information on when the jets will be contracted or when they will be delivered.
We’re gonna buy 11 extra F35’s, the best fighter jets of the world. They will be produced in Italy. @LockheedMartin @GuidoCrosetto pic.twitter.com/syA2TZFxjg
— Theo Francken (@FranckenTheo) July 18, 2025
This will increase Belgium’s order from 34 F-35As to 45 examples. It is part of a larger effort by Belgium to reconstitute its forces following decades of decline after the Cold War. Belgium is also planning to purchase 10 NASAMS systems from Kongsberg to provide the country with air defence capabilities.
Belgium’s transition to F-35A fighter jets
Belgium is currently transitioning from its ageing F-16 Fighting Falcons to significantly more capable F-35s. According to the Oryx blog, thirty of Belgium’s retiring F-16s have been pledged as aid to Ukraine. These deliveries will continue to 2028 as Belgium receives replacement F-35As.
Belgium currently has an order for 34 F-35As; these are mostly being assembled at Lockheed Martin’s primary production facility in Texas. The first eight of these have already been built and are now at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona as the Belgian F-35 Conversion Unit trains and transitions to the new fighter.
Belgium selected the F-35A to replace its F-16AM/BM fighter jets in 2018 over the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, and the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Final finishes are underway on Belgium's first domestic F-35, preparing the jet for its inaugural flight. @thef35 is ushering in a new era of 5th Gen capability for @BeAirForce ! 🇧🇪✈️ pic.twitter.com/6Fp6RSgvMX
— Lockheed Martin Europe (@LMEuropeNews) July 9, 2025
In 2022, Lockheed started production on the first Belgian F-35, and in 2023, it rolled out the first example. The first Belgian F-35 was officially received by Belgium at the Luke Air Force base training centre in 2024.
The first jets are now preparing to fly with Lockheed Martin Europe saying, “Final finishes are underway on Belgium’s first in-country F-35, preparing the jet for its first flight,” in July 2025.
European countries increasing F-35 orders
Early 2025 brought speculation of there being a supposed ‘kill switch’ on the F-35 and the United States being an unreliable partner. There were rumours some countries could cancel their orders. This hasn’t happened, and instead, 2025 has seen NATO countries increase their orders for the stealth fighter.
The news comes after the United Kingdom announced it will purchase 12 F-35As to serve alongside its fleet of STOVL F-35Bs to restore the RAF’s ability to deliver nuclear weapons by air. British industry, including Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Martin Baker, contributes around 15% to every F-35 produced.
Italy has also recently increased its planned F-35 fleet to 110 examples. Recently, it was reported that the German Air Force would purchase another 15 F-35As, although Germany quickly denied this. While Germany may not have increased its order, there is speculation that it will soon.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Netherlands has also increased its F-35A order, and Poland is also considering purchasing more. The Netherlands increased its commitment from 46 to 58 in 2024.
NATO countries (except Spain) have agreed to spend 5% of GDP on defence by 2035, including 1.5% of defence-related infrastructure. European countries are now rearming to counter an increasingly aggressive Russia.
