The first Belgian F-35 fighter jets have arrived at the Florennes military air base from the United States. This is the first time in almost 50 years that Belgium has taken a new type of fighter jet into service. Belgian defence minister Francken (Flemish nationalist) has called the arrival of the F-35s ‘the purchase of the century’.
‘New fighter jets are only purchased once a century,’ explains chief of the defence staff Gen Vansina, himself a pilot. ‘The intention is that they will last for almost half a century, just like their predecessor, the F-16.’
Belgium's order for F-35s costs approximately 4 billion euro for the first 34 aircraft plus the associated support, training and infrastructure costs. If you also take into account the full life cycle costs (maintenance, spare parts, operational use over decades), that amount is estimated at approximately 12.4 to 15 billion euro.
The aircraft also has a Belgian touch. ‘Approximately 25 per cent of the aircraft is manufactured in Europe,’ defence minister Francken explains. ‘The paint coating, for example, is Belgian, and parts of the tail are also manufactured in Belgium.’
Three of the promised four aircraft gleamed on the tarmac of the Florennes military air base on Monday. The base will be able to accommodate a total of 17 aircraft, with in the customary Belgian balance the remaining F-35s ordered to be delivered to the Kleine Brogel air base (Limburg) in 2027.