In the United States, the first F-35 multirole fighter for the Belgian Air Force has entered the final stage of assembly.

The Air Force of Belgium reported on this.

Fighters are manufactured at the Lockheed Martin site in Fort Worth, Texas.

The aircraft was produced from a high-precision joining mechanism, where the four main sections of the airframe were joined using measuring lasers and sensors.

During the final assembly, the aircraft’s cone will be installed, as well as the electronic systems and engine will be tested.

Next, the plane will go to a special workshop, where it will receive a stealth coating.

The aircraft is due to leave the factory this year and will be based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where Belgian pilots will receive initial training.

The first arrival of the F-35 in Belgium is scheduled for 2025 at Florence Air Base.

From 2027, the F-35s will also be based at Kleine Brogel Air Base.

Belgium signed a contract for the delivery of 34 F-35A fighters in October 2018.

The initial schedule envisaged that fighters would be delivered in batches of 4 aircraft in 2023-2027 and 2030, and 5 in 2028-2029.

At this year’s Paris Air Show, Belgium announced its intention to join the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme as an observer.