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07 August 2023
by Gareth Jennings
The first of 34 conventional take-off and landing Block 4 F-35As for Belgium is now in the final stages of assembly at the Fort Worth production facility in Texas. (Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin has begun final assembly of the first F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) for Belgium at its Fort Worth facility in Texas. The Belgian Air Component (BAC) announced the milestone on 2 August, saying aircraft AY-01 is on course for delivery before the end of 2023.
The BAC is to receive 34 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) Block 4 F-35As, the first of which is being built in lots 15–17 of the production programme. Belgium selected the F-35A as its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon replacement in October 2018. Belgian pilots and operational support personnel began training on the F-35A in the US in 2022, with technicians following earlier in 2023.
As noted by
Janes World Air Forces
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