Delivery of the first F-35s: Belgium will have to wait until summer 2025, but financial penalties are planned

They have not yet been delivered to Belgium but the F-35s are already triggering a communications war within the government

And one point particularly caught the attention of the deputies: the progress of the F-35 combat aircraft program, with the question of whether additional delays in development and delivery should be expected. of these devices.

To secure the services of these 34 “Ferrari of the air”, Belgium had, as a reminder, paid 4.8 billion euros. And if the third “Belgian” F-35A to leave the Lockheed Martin factories made its first test flight last May in Texas, the manufacturer had indicated that four planes should be delivered to Belgium this year.

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More than two years late

But in the meantime, delivery times have been increased. The reason: a major hardware and software upgrade is necessary and promises to be more complex than expected. The update of the F-35 fighter jets to a new standard, that ordered by Belgium, could extend until the early 2030s while certain intermediate features could be introduced more quickly.

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“Delivery, initially scheduled for 2023, would ultimately not take place until next year, a delay of two years. It is important to provide us with an update: what are the deadlines now until complete completion of the program, and what are the reasons for this delay? And will we be compensated by the manufacturer for these delays?asked Stéphane Lasseaux, mayor of Florennes and member of the Chamber (Les Engagés), in the Defense committee.

In her response, the Minister of Defense specified that this summer, the American government began to accept the delivery of the first F-35s, including the latest capability developments from which Belgium will benefit.

“Additional time is planned for all deliveries. The first 8 planes should therefore arrive at the base in Arizona by the end of 2024. Then, over the next 10 months, the delay can largely be absorbed by Lockheed Martin, which will have little impact on the final delivery for Belgium, now expected in summer 2025 instead of spring 2025.”she indicated. The organization of pilot and technician training in the United States has also been adapted to ensure that planned dates are maintained and in order to achieve initial operational capacity in 2027 and then full capacity in 2030.

Delay penalties are also included in the contract between the US government and Lockheed Martin in the form of a reduced payment. However, no amount was specified.

“The delivery of F-16s to Ukraine will be done as quickly as possible”

“Concerning the preparation of our bases, the infrastructure work is progressing well, and the F35 complexes will be ready in time to accommodate the planes. As for the maintenance of devices such as flight simulators, the transition is fully planned thanks to the new schedule delivery, guaranteeing the operational level of the F-16s until the end of 2028, when the F-35s will systematically take over. Many initiatives are underway to improve the training of technicians, and training has already started with the first. courses planned for January 2024″detailed the socialist minister.

If our new fighter jets are to arrive within a few months, time is running out. Belgium has indeed committed to delivering 30 F-16 fighters to Ukraine by 2028.

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“Our position has never changed: delivery of F-16s to Ukraine will occur as quickly as possible to strengthen its military capabilities. We are working closely with our allies, as needed, to accelerate deliveries, ideally before the end of the year. That said, we must also be careful not to compromise our own security, especially with the upcoming arrival of the F-35s. Today, I stand by what has already been said: we are doing. the maximum, but at this stage it is impossible for us to deliver F-16s to Ukraineexplains Ludivine Dedonder (PS). We are part of a coalition where several countries are committed to delivering F-16s. I mentioned the importance of pilot training, which is a fundamental complement to delivering these capabilities. Additionally, it is essential to train qualified technicians, as these aircraft require complex and specialized maintenance.”