Belgian US-based F-35 conversion unit receives first national aircraft

The first F-35/F-35A for Belgium arrived at Luke AFB in Arizona on 4 December. (Belgian Air Component)

Belgium's US-based conversion unit for the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) received its first national aircraft on 4 December.

Aircraft tail number FL002 was delivered into the Belgian F-35 Conversion Unit (BEL F-35 CU) at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona, where it will be used for Belgian Air Component (BAC) training as part of the US Air Force's (USAF's) 312th Fighter Squadron (FS).

News of the arrival of FL002 came 12 months after the Belgian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in late November 2023 that the first elements of the BEL F-35 CU had been despatched to Luke AFB to prepare the new national training capability.

“A total of 48 pilots, 14 flight simulator instructors, and 120 technicians will pass through for their training on, or conversion to, the state-of-the-art F-35A in the coming years,” the Belgian MoD said at the time.

There are more than 110 F-35As at Luke AFB, drawn from the USAF and a range of international operators. These are used to train pilots and maintainers on the type, before aircraft deliveries to their respective home countries are made.

Prior to the arrival of FL002, BAC pilots and ground crews had training on US and other international airframes. Belgian pilots and operational support personnel began training on the F-35A in the US in 2022, with technicians following earlier in 2023.

For more information on European F-35 programmes, please see IFC 2024: Lockheed Martin touts further potential for F-35 in Europe.