The first F-35 horizontal tail unit has now been fully produced in Belgium. Sonaca said the achievement was delivered through BeLightning, a consortium formed with Sabca and Asco Industries and supported by the Belgian State’s Federal Participation and Investment Company, SFPIM.
The F-35 programme is expected to create 200 jobs in Belgium and generate €400 million in economic returns. Sonaca assembles the horizontal tail units, which are critical rear aircraft components that help ensure stability during flight.
The Belgian industrial arrangement combines work from several companies. Asco Industries manufactures the metal components that form the internal structure, while Sabca produces the large composite panels that cover it.
The BeLightning consortium has total capital of nearly €200 million. SFPIM provided about half of that amount, with a large share invested in Sonaca and the construction of the new factory.
Sonaca said the new facility brings together expertise, precision and ambition to deliver high-value F-35 horizontal tailplanes. The company also thanked Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems Air for their trust and said the milestone was celebrated with both partners.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Defence Minister Theo Francken attended the ceremony, along with U.S. Ambassador Bill White. Sonaca also welcomed Walloon Minister-President Adrien Dolimont and Vice-President Pierre-Yves Jeholet, describing their presence as a strong endorsement for the industry.
After a private tour of the factory, the dignitaries signed the first tail section to come off the production line. De Wever wrote “Si vis pacem, para bellum”, Latin for “if you want peace, prepare for war”.
Francken wrote “Freedom!” on the tail section. White wrote, on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump, “Peace thru Strength!”
De Wever said Belgium’s role in F-35 production allows the country “not only to be a consumer, but also an active player in its own security”. He said he hoped the inauguration would “remind us that security is not built through isolationism, but through partnership.”
De Wever concluded his speech with the words “Long live NATO, forever.” His remarks linked the industrial project to Belgium’s wider security and alliance commitments.
Francken said the F-35 order should not be seen only as a traditional purchase from an American supplier. He said the programme now relies on a wider European industrial network.
“Belgian tail surfaces, German fuselage sections, front components from Finland and Italian assembly demonstrate that the programme now relies on an extensive European industrial network,” Francken said.
Sonaca said the project shows how teams from different organisations are working together behind high-performance aircraft. The company said it is proud to stand alongside Asco, Sabca and Belgian Defence as it continues building the future.
