Assembly of first BLu Lightning II will start soon

Recently, the first parts (outer wing boxes) of what will become the initial Lockheed F-35A Lightning II (serial FL01 and customer number AY-01) of the Belgische Luchtmacht (BLu, Belgian Air Component, Belgian Air Force) were seen on the production line of Lockheed Martin's plant in Fort Worth (TX).

Contrary to the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) F-35As, the Belgian ones will all be completed in the US with only the central wings and outer wing boxes constructed at the FACO facility in Cameri (Italy).

Once completed it seems unlikely that we will see the first four fighters any time soon in Europe as they will be based at Luke AFB (AZ) for initial pilot and crew training. The remaining thirty aircraft will be based at Kleine Brogel and Florennes air bases. However, the latter will not see the first aircraft arriving before April 2025 and Kleine Brogel will have to wait until 2027.

Once delivered they will slowly relieve the venerable F-16 Fighting Falcon of its operational duties after almost fifty years of service. Currently the BLu has some 45 single seaters and 8 double seaters still in operation. Whether these F-16s will see any service with a new operator seems doubtful given their age and the limited number of flight hours remaining.

Photo via Lockheed Martin / Belgian Air Force