The Belgian Air Component’s use of the F-16 Fighting Falcon began in the late 1970s as a replacement for its aging F-104G Starfighters. As one of the original European partners in the F-16 program, Belgium played a key role in the aircraft’s development and production, with its own SABCA factory assembling many of the F-16s for the Belgian and other air forces. The F-16 quickly became the backbone of the Belgian Air Force, providing a versatile multirole platform for a variety of missions, from air-to-air combat to ground attack. The fleet has undergone continuous modernisation, most notably with the Mid-Life Update (MLU) program, which has kept the aircraft combat-relevant for decades, allowing them to participate in numerous international operations, including NATO’s air policing missions.
While the F-16 has been the stalwart of the Belgian Air Component for over four decades, its service is now drawing to a close. In 2018, Belgium officially selected the F-35 Lightning II to replace its F-16 fleet. The transition is a gradual process, with the F-35s being delivered and pilots being trained, while the F-16s continue to carry out their duties. As the F-35s become operational, the retiring F-16s are being phased out.