Belgium has received three more F-35A Lightning II fighters at Florennes Air Base, taking the number of aircraft based in the country to seven. The jets arrived on Friday after a transatlantic ferry flight from Fort Worth via the Azores, with tanker support from two U.S. KC-135s.
The delivery forms part of Belgium’s 2018 order for 34 F-35As to replace its F-16 fleet. The larger in-country inventory moves Brussels closer to retiring the ageing fighters and transferring Belgian F-16s to Ukraine once enough F-35s are available locally.
Belgium’s first four F-35s arrived at Florennes in October 2025. One more aircraft is expected before the end of 2026, which would raise the number stationed at Florennes to eight. In total, 15 Belgian F-35s have reportedly been built or delivered so far, with eight still in the United States for training.