Two Belgian Companies including SABCA and Ilias Solutions, have signed a partnership agreement with the American Company Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35 fighter aircraft, to be a supplier of services and support according to the agreement signed by the Belgian government to purchase 34 F-35A fighter aircraft.
F-35 fighter aircraft in flight demonstration during Belgian Air Force Days 2018. (Picture source Air Recognition)
ILIAS Solutions, a Belgian logistics software company, announced 15 Sept 2019 that it reached an agreement with Lockheed Martin on supplier opportunities. This opens the door for ILIAS Solutions to pursue valuable contracts within the F-35 program and to provide logistics software solutions to Lockheed Martin and its customers.
SABCA Group, a top tier Belgian aerospace company, has reached an agreement with Lockheed Martin on supplier opportunities for the actuation systems on the F-35 Lightning II 5th generation fighter planes. This opens the door for SABCA to pursue valuable contracts to provide actuation systems not only to Lockheed Martin.
On October 2018, it was officially announced that Belgium has selected the F-35 as its next-generation fighter to replace its fleet of F-16. With the Belgian government’s selection of the F-35A, Belgium becomes the 13th nation to join the F-35 program of record.
Belgium’s allies – the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Italy U.K., and U.S. – are F-35 program participants. For this reason, the aircraft serves as the ultimate solution for interoperability with NATO and other allied assets. From logistics and capability to the capacity to conduct coalition activities and peacekeeping operations, this advanced 5th Gen aircraft positions Belgium favorably for current and future missions.
The foundation of Belgium’s F-35 program is rooted in longstanding, reliable partnerships with the government and industry. The Belgian Air Force began flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-130 Hercules in the 1970s. More than 40 years later, this strong partnership lives on in the Lightning II.
Across Belgium’s three regions, Lockheed Martin continues to actively work with dozens of Belgian companies on expanding business opportunities, signifying a strong commitment to exploring industrial cooperation in high-technology defense, aerospace, cyber and security sectors. Within Belgium, there are also six higher education institutions that are included in the industrial participation program.
Alongside the economic and industrial benefits, the enhanced interoperability and transformational capabilities the F-35 brings to Belgium are unmatched. With stealth technology, advanced sensors, weapons capacity and range, the F-35 is the most capable, survivable and connected fighter aircraft ever built enabling pilots to perform their mission and return home safely.
