Belgium’s F-35A fighter jets can be operated with full national sovereignty, according to Colonel Roeland Van Thienen, director of the Belgian Air Force’s F-35 programme. Responding to persistent rumours of a US-controlled “kill switch” that could remotely disable the aircraft, Van Thienen strongly denied its existence, insisting: “We can operate the aircraft completely at our discretion.”
The comments were made during a press visit to Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, where the first Belgian pilots are undergoing F-35 training. They come at a time of renewed geopolitical uncertainty following Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency, which has reignited concerns about the stability of transatlantic defence commitments.
Van Thienen stressed that the F-35 is not just an American asset, but part of a multinational programme involving 20 countries – 13 of them European – creating a shared operational interdependence.
Guaranteed autonomy
Major General Geert De Decker, Chief of the Belgian Air Force, also reiterated Belgium’s autonomy, noting that while the F-35 relies on shared data and parts from a global logistics pool, each partner nation retains sovereign control of its fleet.
Designed for air superiority, the F-35 integrates stealth capabilities and a powerful sensor suite to provide pilots with a streamlined, real-time battlefield overview. This improves reaction time and decision-making compared to older aircraft such as the F-16, which lacks stealth and requires manual data interpretation.
TR-3 upgrade
Belgium’s F-35s, based at Luke AFB in Arizona, are among the first in the world to receive the TR-3 upgrade, which includes next-generation avionics and cockpit systems. While this upgrade caused initial delivery delays, it ensures that the platform remains adaptable to future technological requirements.
Belgium has ordered 34 F-35A jets – the conventional version – and expects them to remain in service for at least 40 years.
© BELGA VIDEO / BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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