Lockheed Martin begins construction of first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet for Belgian Air Force

Lockheed Martin has begun building the first F-35A Lighting II fighter jet for the Belgian Air Force. Major General Thierry Dupont, head of the Air Force, visited the plant in Fort Worth, Texas.

Here's What We Know

Belgium ordered 34 F-35 Lighting II fifth-generation fighter jets in October 2018. They will be a replacement for the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and will have serial numbers from FL-01 to FL-34. The serial numbers are now in the format AY-XX.

The first fighter will be ready in December 2023, but deliveries to Belgium will not start until 2025. The planes will first go to the US Air Force base Luke, Arizona, where Belgian pilots will be trained.

The debut batch of fifth-generation fighters will be deployed in Belgium at Florennes. The F-35 Lighting II will also be deployed at the Kleine-Brogel base from 2027.

Source: @BeAirForce