Four planes, ordered from the American manufacturer, took off from Texas last week, with a planned stop on the Osnight Islands, the anadolia reports.
The three planes successfully completed the last stage of the flight 2,800 kilometers long and landed in Belgium for a moment, in the presence of Kralj Philippa, the Chief of Defense and several federal ministers.
According to the Het Laatste Nieuws, the fourth plane, who was supposed to fly along with the others, suffered a “malfunction” that prevented his arrival in Belgium.
The Ministry of Defense described the situation as “technical uncertainty” and emphasized that security was a priority.
Earlier during the day, the Minister of Defense Theo Francken opened a new complex for the maintenance of the F-35 airplane in Florennes, which was marked as an important step in the strategic military transformation of Belgium.
The new F-35 planes will replace the F-16 aircraft that were in the service of the Belgian Air Force for more than 40 years. Belgian pilots and technicians will pass training in the United States, along with their international colleagues.
So far, Belgium ordered 34 aircraft F-35, and plans to buy another 11, confirmed Francken, emphasizing that Belgium “dedicated to joining the shield of more than 700 spacecraft that protects European airspace”.
(Vijesti.ba)
