The Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder (PS) confirmed in parliament on Wednesday that the air force will only receive two F-35 fighter jets from the United States in December, with the other two planned deliveries delayed until next year.
The Belgian Government agreed to purchase 34 F-35s from the US in 2018 for €4.5 billion. Both administrations agreed on a timeframe that would see four or five jets delivered each year between 2023 and 2030.
However, Dedonder announced on Wednesday that this year’s deliveries had been delayed. She explained that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were still being felt by the American military-industrial complex.
Belga News Agency reports that the delay had already been confirmed internally since mid-April due to a slowdown in production at Lockheed Martin.
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Moreover, the first two F-35s will not be equipped with the latest RT3 configuration as had been previously agreed. The Pentagon confirmed that this upgrade can only be added in April 2024.
The delays will undoubtedly add to Belgium’s growing disappointment towards the deal. De Morgen had previously reported that the Federal Government didn't consider the purchase has brought the hoped-for economic results.
Nonetheless, Dedonder remained optimistic and claimed that the total number of fighter jets should still be delivered by 2030.
