First F-35s Arrive in Belgium, Paving the Way for F-16s to Be Delivered to Ukraine

The first F-35s have arrived in Belgium, having flown from the United States to the Floren airbase in the Belgian province of Namur. This paves the way for the gradual decommissioning and transfer of F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

The Belgian Ministry of Defense broadcasted the arrival of the first F-35s live.

The aircraft were flown directly from the United States, where Belgian pilots had been training for several months at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The F-35s will now begin the operational evaluation and integration phase before entering service next year.

Belgium ordered 34 F-35As in 2018 to replace its F-16 fleet and later decided to increase the order to 45 aircraft. The new aircraft will be based at Florence and Kleine-Brogel air bases, with the full replacement of the F-16 expected by 2028.

The initial delivery schedule envisaged delivery in batches: 4 aircraft in 2023-2027 and 2030, and 5 in 2028-2029.

However, at the end of 2023, Belgium temporarily refused to accept two F-35As due to problems with software certification. This decision pushed back the delivery schedule.

The first Belgian aircraft were delivered to Luke Air Force Base (Arizona) in December 2024, where they were used to train Belgian pilots and technicians together with the 312th Squadron of the US Air Force.

Currently, the initial readiness of the new aircraft for combat use with the possibility of limited operations is scheduled for mid-2027, and full combat readiness is expected by the end of 2030.

The F-35As are to replace the F-16 AM/BM fighters that will be transferred to Ukraine. The Belgian government has repeatedly stated that the timing of the delivery of Belgian F-16s to Ukraine depends on the receipt of new F-35s for the Belgian Air Force.

According to current plans, Belgium intends to provide Ukraine with up to 30 F-16s by 2028, making it the largest donor of this type of aircraft.

In April 2025, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced that Belgium would provide the Ukrainian Air Force with two F-16 fighter jets in 2025 and two more in the following year.

“We promised to become the largest supplier of F-16s to Ukraine. And here, of course, we will keep our word. Two F-16s for spare parts will arrive this year, and two aircraft will be delivered next year. We really hope that there will be more, but we are waiting for the F-35. There are no delays on our part,” De Wever said at the time.