Belgium will order additional F-35 fighters, local media reported, BTA reported.
The country expects to receive the first deliveries of the 34 aircraft ordered so far very soon, which will gradually replace a total of about 50 F-16 fighters promised to Ukraine.
The Belgian government announced earlier this month that it would achieve defense spending equal to two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of the year. Until recently, the government had planned to achieve this goal only after five years.
A detailed list of additional capabilities provided by the increased budget for the armed forces is yet to be drawn up. The list is expected to include ammunition (for personal weapons and anti-tank guns), armored vehicles, explosive devices, mines, missiles for the air force and navy, drones for various types of troops, electronic warfare equipment, as well as the purchase of additional military transport aircraft and combat helicopters. The bulk of the medium-term spending will be directed towards the acquisition of a full range of modern air defense systems.
Last year, Belgium allocated defense funds equal to 1.31 percent of GDP, or about 8 billion euros, and the government plans to increase these expenditures by over 17 billion euros by 2029. For now, the country remains among the few NATO allies that have not achieved the target of military spending equal to 2 percent of GDP.