Belgian Air Force’s First F-35A Rolls Out at Lockheed Martin

The aircraft, which is designated AY-01, will be delivered to the air force in the coming year and is set to be based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, to facilitate pilot and maintainer training, the manufacturer said.

"The introduction of the F-35 within the Belgian Air Force will enable us to continue to fulfill all our missions in the coming decades, in cooperation with our allies and partners in NATO, the EU, and beyond," said Admiral Michel Hofman, chief of defense for the Belgian Armed Forces.

In 2018, the U.S. State Department approved Belgium to make the estimated $6.53 billion buy of 34 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft, along with four spare Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines, electronic warfare systems, training, and support.

"The growth of the F-35 in Europe strengthens international partnerships, interoperability, and warfighting capability, and emphasizes the importance the aircraft provides as a deterrent against potential adversaries," said Lieutenant General Mike Schmidt, program executive officer for the F-35 Joint Program Office.

The F-35 presentation to Belgium marks the latest integration of the fighter capability in Europe, strengthening interoperability among U.S. and NATO forces. In October, Denmark took delivery of four F-35As, becoming the fifth European NATO country to operate the aircraft.