Belgium has announced the purchase of 11 additional F-35 combat aircraft as part of the country’s latest defense strategy.
The decision, verified by Defence Minister Theo Francken, is expected to cost around 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion)
The move raises the NATO member’s total F-35 commitment to 45 aircraft, with eight already assembled and the ninth scheduled for delivery to the country this autumn.
Lockheed Martin launched Brussels’ first F-35 unit in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2023.
In 2018, Belgium announced plans to acquire the American-made F-35 to replace its aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets, marking a major step in modernizing the country’s air combat capabilities and aligning more closely with NATO standards.
The entire fleet is set to be operational by 2031.
$39B Defense Vision
The latest acquisition aligns with Belgium’s shift toward strengthening combat capabilities for modern warfare, rather than focusing on expeditionary missions.
The plan, outlined in the Belgian defense agency’s “Strategic Vision Defense 2025” policy, includes the increase of warfighter headcount by a third by 2034.
Other projects under this framework involve the procurement of 10 short- and medium-range anti-aircraft batteries of the Belgian Armed Forces’ NASAMS system and three anti-aircraft batteries to complement the SBAMD multi-layered defense system.
Brussels will spend approximately 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) for each missile equipment package, with orders starting in 2026 and 2029, respectively.
A separate 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) will be allotted for a third anti-submarine warfare frigate to join two vessels being built under a bilateral shipbuilding initiative between the Belgian and Dutch governments.
It will also invest 254 million euros ($298.5 million) for a third MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial system by 2027.
Meanwhile, about $13.8 billion will be budgeted for ground-based systems and motorized assets.
In total, the Strategic Vision Defense 2025 will reserve 33.7 billion euros ($39.6 billion) to reinforce the Belgian military’s multi-domain capabilities.
“A country like Belgium can only remain free and sovereign by committing itself to loyal and powerful partners. And we can only count on their loyalty if we are willing to stand in solidarity in their defense,” the document said.
