Belgium plans to expand F-35A fleet with additional jets from Italian assembly line

According to the minister, the new aircraft would be sourced from the European final assembly line located in Cameri, Italy. This facility currently produces F-35 aircraft for Italy and the Netherlands, with deliveries for Poland, Finland, and Switzerland scheduled to follow.

The Italian plant has a production capacity of 15 aircraft per year, raising questions about the availability of assembly slots for future Belgian orders. The additional aircraft would come from the European final assembly line, which is located in Cameri, Italy, Theo Francken stated.

Belgium has already ordered 34 F-35A aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. So far, eight units have been delivered and stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where they serve as the national training component.

In April this year, the assembly of Belgium’s ninth F-35A began in Fort Worth, Texas. This aircraft will be the first delivered to Florennes Air Base, marking the formal start of the transition from the currently operated F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon fleet.