The world's first F-35 Lightning II Block 4 fighter jets will be delivered to the Belgian Air Force next year, marking a new stage in the Belgian Air Force's history. At the completion ceremony held in Fort Worth, Texas, Lockheed Martin proudly presented this advanced fighter to Belgium. 
The size and strength of the Belgian Air Force is relatively limited, with 4,500 active personnel and a total of 120 fixed-wing and *** aircraft. Its fighter unit consists mainly of F-16AM BM fighters, but in smaller numbers - only 54 units. In addition, the Belgian Air Force is also equipped with a number of trainers, transport aircraft and auxiliary aircraft. Despite the fact that the Belgian Air Force has a certain level of combat experience and skills, it needs to be improved in terms of the number of fighters and the technical level. Therefore, Belgium is constantly promoting the modernization of its air force, and plans to introduce more advanced equipment and technology to enhance the combat capability of the air force. 
Belgium plans to purchase F-35A** fighters to replace existing F-16 fighters. On October 25, 2018, the Belgian Ministry of Defense officially announced the purchase of the F-35 as a next-generation fighter, making Belgium the 13th user of the F-35. According to the decision, Belgium will purchase 34 F-35s to replace the existing 54 F-16s, and the contract also includes four F135-PW-100 spare engines, electronic warfare and communication system backup kits, a simulator and an autonomous logistics information system (ALIS) for a total cost of about $6.5 billion. In terms of funding, Belgium plans to raise funds through the defense budget and ** loans, among other things. **3.6 billion euros have been committed for the implementation of the plan. In addition, countries such as the United Kingdom and France have also provided financial support to Belgium to help it modernize its military. In the coming years, Belgium will receive 34 F-35A fighters. Hoffmann, Chief of the Defense Staff of the Belgian Armed Forces, stressed the importance of the F-35 for the Air Force and said that the F-35A will improve the efficiency of the Belgian Air Force in carrying out its missions and strengthen Brussels' cooperation with allies and partners in NATO, the European Union and other regions. 
The F-35 Block 4 is the latest version of the F-35 fighter family with some key improvements and enhancements. First of all, the Block 4 version has been upgraded in terms of hardware and software, which improves the performance and reliability of the fighter. This includes improvements and upgrades to engines, avionics systems, ** systems, and other critical subsystems. Secondly, the Block 4 version also adds new capabilities and features, such as enhanced stealth performance, advanced electronic warfare systems, increased speed and maneuverability, etc. These improvements allow the F-35 to better adapt to the needs of modern warfare, increasing its survivability and combat effectiveness in complex electromagnetic environments. In addition, the F-35 Block 4 version uses advanced communication and data transmission technologies to enable synergies with other allies and partners. This will help enhance the effectiveness of joint operations and enhance the overall combat capability. In partnership with Loma, Belgium participates in the Essential Security Interest (ESI) program, which provides Brussels with a unique advantage. The program not only provides Belgian engineers and experts with access to and familiarity with cutting-edge U.S. defense technology, but also provides them with the opportunity to upskill and expand their local industry knowledge. 
Currently, the first F-35 Block 4 batch fighter with the designation "AY-01" is conducting a test flight at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Once the test flight is completed and satisfactory results are obtained, the fighter will be officially delivered to the Belgian Air Force in 2024. Belgium has made it clear that they will only accept the latest version of the F-35 in the fourth batch, and other versions are not to be discussed. Loma assured that Belgium would receive the latest version of the Lightning II. This delivery is a major achievement for Loma and an important step towards the modernization of the Belgian Air Force.