The Belgian government purchased 34 F-35As from the United States. The first aircraft, codenamed AY-01, will be delivered to the Belgian Air Force next year. However, the plane will not be sent directly to Belgium but to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for pilot training.
“The introduction of the F-35 to the Belgian Air Force will allow us to continue fulfilling all our missions for decades to come, working together with our allies and partners in NATO, the EU and beyond,” said Chief of Defence of the Belgian Armed Forces Admiral Michel Hofman.
In August, Belgium announced that it would not accept F-35 stealth fighters, pending the certification of an improved flight computer and new software.
