US and Belgian Air Forces launch joint F-35 training program at Luke AFB.

The partnership between Belgium and the United States has given birth to a new training unit specialized in the F-35 multirole fighter jet. Recently inaugurated at the American base of Luke, this joint venture between the U.S. Air Force and the Belgian Air Force (Air Component) aims to train the next generation of Belgian F-35 pilots and technicians.

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  A Royal Danish Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 308th Fighter Squadron lands at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

Led by U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Jason Wall, the unit also benefits from the expertise of Belgian Major Pierre-Yves Libert. Having recently relocated to the U.S. with his family, Libert plays a pivotal role in this collaboration. Several members of the Belgian military have already joined this initiative, with more set to join in the coming months. They will be supported by American experts, including instructor pilots.

The year 2024 will mark the start of the transition of Belgian F-16 pilots to the F-35 multirole fighter jet. These trailblazers, once trained, will become instructors themselves, helping to train a new wave of Belgian pilots. Additionally, a batch of Belgian technicians will also undergo training. The program will be split into two phases: theoretical training in Florida followed by hands-on training in Arizona.

Depending on a pilot's prior experience, the duration of the training will vary. Those with prior F-16 experience will undergo an intensive program that includes classes, simulations, and actual flights. Newer pilots, trained through the Euro-NATO program, will follow a more extended curriculum. This shift from the F-16 to the F-35 in the U.S. is expected to span seven years.

Luke base was chosen in 2019 as the training hub for Belgian pilots, given its status as a major global training center for the F-35. Several other nations, including the Netherlands and Italy, have also established their training programs there.

However, there's been a slight hiccup regarding the delivery of F-35s to Belgium. Although delivery was initially set for this year, it has been postponed until some aircraft software update problems are solved. The first Belgian F-35s are now expected to arrive in 2025 and 2027 at two different Belgian bases: Florennes first, then Kleine Brogel.