Belgian Air Component F-35A Ordered

Belgium decided to expand its F-35A order by 11 aircraft, raising the planned fleet from 34 to 45. The additional jets are intended to give the Belgian Air Component the mass needed to sustain simultaneous NATO air policing, nuclear sharing and expeditionary commitments, a persistent concern with the original buy. The decision came as Belgium raised defence spending toward NATO targets. The first four Belgian F-35As arrived at Florennes Air Base in October 2025 after several years of pilot training in the United States.