Vervanging Belgische F-16's.

[Stratofreighter]

https://www.pilootenvliegtuig.nl/2023/1 ... or-belgie/

Bij Lockheed Martin is vrijdag (10 november 2023) de eerste voor de Belgische luchtmacht bestemde F-35A naar buiten gerold.

Naar verwachting zal het toestel tegen het einde van het jaar officieel worden gepresenteerd.

[Stratofreighter]

...foto's, etcetera...
https://www.rtl.be/actu/belgique/societ ... cle/616626
/
https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2023-12 ... or-Belgium
/
https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20231210_97231504

Video bij de VRT:
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/kijk/2023/ ... -62380735/

..en de RTBF...:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Pz-tZ-0yo

[Stratofreighter]

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/ne ... ining.html
/
https://www.brusselstimes.com/862008/be ... ian-pilots

POSTED ON THURSDAY,
04 JANUARY 2024 16:11

Belgium is set to dispatch two F-16B two-seater aircraft to Denmark between March and September 2024.

Their mission is to actively participate in the training of Ukrainian pilots on these highly anticipated aircraft,
eagerly awaited by Kyiv.

This collaborative training initiative is an integral part of the "F-16 coalition,"
which consists of thirteen nations led by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States.

The primary objective is to equip the Ukrainian Air Force with single- and two-seater F-16 fighter-bombers manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s.

Specifically, two Belgian F-16B aircraft will be deployed to Denmark for two separate eight-week periods
between March and September 2024. Additionally, approximately fifty personnel will be involved in this mission,

[Stratofreighter]

https://www.aviation24.be/military-airc ... ix-months/

Delay hits Belgium’s F-35 delivery: advanced software certification pushes timeline back by six months
9 February 2024

Belgium’s order for 34 F-35 fighter jets faces a delay of at least six months
due to setbacks in the certification process for the latest software update,
known as “Technology Refresh 3” (TR-3).

Originally,
four aircraft were planned for delivery by the end of 2023,
later reduced to two due to pandemic-related slowdowns.

However, the updated software required for the aircraft’s operation in its “Block 4” version is still pending approval.

The certification process is expected to conclude in the second quarter of 2024.

The delay is unlikely to impact the overall deployment timeline,
with the gradual replacement of F-16 fighter-bombers scheduled by 2030.

Pilots and technicians are set to undergo training in the United States before the F-35s join the Belgian Air Force,
with the first four expected at Florennes air base in May 2025.

The delay poses challenges but is not anticipated to affect the overall transition plan.

[Stratofreighter]

https://theaviationist.com/2024/05/15/first-baf-f-35/

Here are the first images of the first Belgian Air Force F-35A during its maiden flight.

On May 14, 2024,
AY-03, the third of a total order of 34 F-35s destined to Belgium, made its first flight.

The aircraft, took off around from Lockheed Martin Fort Worth facility, Texas, around 3.00PM LT
and flew for about one hour.

As the images taken by our friend and contributor Gherardo Fontana (@gfontana767) show,
the F-35A sports a colored roundel,
the flag of Belgium on the tail along with the tail code FL003 (“Fighter Lightning 003”).

...meer informatie via The Aviationist.

[Stratofreighter]

https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20240701_97023563

Dinsdag 2 juli 2024

De afscheidsinterviews zijn achter de rug, maar de officiële wissel van de wacht aan de top van het leger is pas voor donderdag.

Dan neemt chef Defensie (CHOD) Michel Hofman afscheid en neemt huidig ­vice-CHOD Fred Vansina over.

De twee werken al maanden nauw samen en gaan daarom ook samen naar de preformateur en de voorzitters van MR, CD&V, Les Engagés en Vooruit.
Ze laten nog niet in hun kaarten kijken, maar aan enkele grote dossiers is geen ontkomen.

Naar 48 F-35’s?
Dat Hofman en Vansina het zullen hebben over het budget, staat buiten kijf. De Vivaldi-regering engageerde zich om tegen 2035 te evolueren naar defensie-uitgaven ten belope van 2% van het bbp. Maar meer dan een voornemen is dat op dit moment niet.

De Navo dringt al jaren aan op extra inspanningen van ons land,
bijvoorbeeld een performante luchtafweer of de aankoop van extra F-35’s,
boven op de 34 die al besteld zijn.

De kans dat Vansina (gewezen chef Luchtcomponent) daar gevoelig aan is, is niet klein.
Maar ook de partijen hebben daar oren naar.
De N-VA wil “bijkomende F-35’s”, de MR vraagt “des avions de chasse supplémentaires”
en CD&V maakt het concreet: “Om daadkrachtig te zijn, heeft Defensie 48 toestellen nodig”.

[sp00k]

Zo hey, kleur op een F-35, nice.

[Stratofreighter]

https://www.lavenir.net/actu/belgique/p ... HLPCJMMOY/

Defense Minister assures F-35 delivery delays will be absorbed by summer 2025

The delays in the delivery of F-35 aircraft to the Belgian army could
be resolved by next summer with the receipt of 12 aircraft.
The first 8 will be intended for training at an American base.


Published on 01-10-2024 at 13:24
Updated on 01-10-2024 at 13:36

While the delivery of the first F-35s, out of 34 ordered, is significantly delayed,
the Minister of Defense, Ludivine Dedonder,
specified that " over the next 10 months,
the (additional) delay could be absorbed."

In committee in the House on Tuesday,
the minister put this delay into perspective by adding that it would be absorbed in "summer 2025 rather than spring 2025."

Initially, four aircraft were to be delivered each year since 2023.

In response to questions from Engagés MP Stéphane Lasseaux, she recalled that compensation was provided for in the contract
" in the form of reduced payment ."

The first 8 aircraft will be delivered to the training base in Arizona before the end of this year.

At the same time, the infrastructure to accommodate these aircraft is being built in Belgium and
" we will have enough qualified personnel before the first F-35s land at Kleine-Brogel."

Newcomer to this Defense commission,
Stéphane Lasseaux is particularly interested in these matters since he is also mayor of Florennes,
whose military base will also host some of the new F-35s.

The first four are expected next year in Florennes.

https://www.levif.be/international/ukra ... -ce-stade/

01-10-2024, 14:22

F-16 to Ukraine: several blockages

One of the problems that still remains unresolved is the supply of spare parts for the Belgian F-16s still in service.

Moreover, training is essential.

While other countries have already delivered planes,
the coalition led by the Netherlands and Denmark must also ensure that enough Ukrainian pilots are able to operate them.

Currently, there is talk of reduced training.
To fully master the aircraft, some four years are needed.

"Having twice as many F-16s as trained pilots does not make much sense.

It is essential, in addition to sending capacities, to train pilots and technicians,"
stressed Ms. Dedonder.

The F-35s from the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin are intended to replace the F-16s.

But they have suffered from delays.

The first eight aircraft out of a total of 34 will be delivered to an American base in Arizona by the end of the year.

During the following ten months,
the delays could be resolved for the other aircraft so that their delivery will only be delayed by a limited amount:
summer 2025, instead of spring 2025.

The Belgian pilots and technicians still need to be trained .

The initial operational capability of the new aircraft will be reached in 2027 and full capability in 2030.

During this interval, the operational capability of the F-16s is guaranteed until 2028.