On Saturday, 11 October 2025, Belgium’s Air Component stood on the verge of a generational handover as the country prepared to receive its first four F-35A fighters at Florennes Air Base on Monday, 13 October. The milestone caps a seven-year procurement cycle and triggers the conditions Brussels had set for releasing additional F-16s to Kyiv. As reported by Le Soir, “the delivery will open the way for Belgium to send its F-16 jets to Ukraine,” Defense Minister Theo Francken said in an interview, signaling that transfers could now be advanced on the coalition timeline. Read Full Defense News At This Link.
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| Belgium’s receipt of its first home-based F-35s is more than a fleet update; it activates a two-track airpower calculus in which Brussels deepens NATO’s frontline deterrence with a fifth-generation spear while backfilling Ukraine with proven F-16 capacity (Picture source: Lockheed Martin/ Fighter Sweep) |