The unique way Belgium welcomed its first F-35 (yes, it involved chocolate)
November 2, 2025
When Belgium’s first F-35A Lightning II touched down at Florennes Air Base on 13 October, it wasn’t just another military delivery. The moment felt like a small national celebration, a blend of pride, history, and typically Belgian humour.
To mark the occasion, master chocolatier Wim Vyverman of The Chocolate Atelier did what Belgians do best. He crafted a batch of perfect miniature F-35s made entirely of chocolate; smooth, glossy, and detailed right down to the wings.
The replicas were his tribute to the new jet and the people behind it. “It was a pleasure and an honour to create this piece for our King at the arrival of the first Belgian F-35,” he later wrote.
Even Lockheed Martin’s official F-35 account joined in the fun on social media, posting: “A huge shoutout to Wim Vyverman of The Chocolate Atelier for crafting these delightful F-35 gifts for the Belgium F-35 First Aircraft Arrival event.”
It was one of those moments when national pride, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology seemed to meet halfway, in cocoa form.
A royal welcome marks a new era for the Belgian Air Force
The day was about far more than the aircraft itself; it was about what it represented for Belgium. King Philippe, dressed in a warm bomber jacket in the cool October air, climbed into the cockpit for a closer look. Beside him, Lieutenant Colonel Tanguy Five explained the jet’s digital systems and sensors, blending royal curiosity with the precision of modern defence.
Three of Belgium’s first four F-35s gleamed on the tarmac that day, with a fourth soon to follow. Eventually, 17 will be based at Florennes, and the rest at Kleine-Brogel Air Base in Limburg by 2027.
General Frederik Vansina, Chief of Defence and a former pilot, spoke with visible pride. “Together with our NATO and European allies, we’re building a wall of F-35s, a shield of over 700 aircraft securing our European skies,” he said.
Then, almost as if reflecting aloud, he added that buying new fighter jets was something a nation did “only once in a century.” The F-35s, he noted, would serve Belgium for nearly 50 years, much like the F-16s they replace.
Seven decades of partnership between Belgium and Lockheed Martin
Belgium’s relationship with Lockheed Martin stretches back more than seven decades, to the days of the Shooting Star and Starfighter. Over the years came the F-16s and C-130 Hercules, the backbone of the Belgian Air Force.
“For more than 70 years, we’ve proudly partnered with Belgium to strengthen its national security and defence industrial base,” said Greg Ulmer, President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
Today, Belgian pilots and technicians are training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, preparing for the full rollout of the F-35. The country also plans to expand its order from 34 to 45 aircraft.
Major General Geert De Decker, Commander of the Belgian Air Force, summed it up succinctly: “With the F-35, Belgium is reclaiming its place among the world’s leading air forces.”
Building Belgium’s defence future through the F-35 programme
This programme is about more than buying jets; it’s about investing in an industrial future.
The first 34 aircraft and related infrastructure cost around €4 billion ($4.6 billion), but with maintenance, training, and lifetime support, the total investment could reach €15 billion ($17 billion).
Yet Belgium isn’t just writing cheques; it’s contributing. “About a quarter of each aircraft is made in Europe,” said Defence Minister Theo Francken. “The paint coating is Belgian, and parts of the tail are produced here too.”
Local firms such as Coexpair and Coexpair Dynamics, renowned for their advanced composites, are playing key roles. Their president, André Breton, captured the national spirit perfectly when he posted online: “How would you like your F-35: full chocolate by Chocolade-Atelier Vyverman or full carbon fibre by Coexpair? In both cases, you’ll get the best products, 100% made in Belgium.”
Chocolate, craftsmanship and pride: A uniquely Belgian F-35 celebration
There was something quietly poetic about it all. Beneath the roar of engines and the polished speeches was the unmistakable scent of cocoa and pride. It was, in its own way, very Belgian – high-tech yet heartfelt, disciplined yet playful.
As the King smiled from the cockpit and guests admired the chocolate jets, it was hard not to be charmed. A small country, proud of its craftsmanship, welcoming the world’s most advanced fighter jet with a wink and a box of chocolates.
Featured image: Atelier Vyverman
