Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has asked his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto whether the additional F-35 fighters that Belgium wants to order could be manufactured in Italy, not in the US, as this would create more jobs in Europe, the Belgian news agency Belga reported, quoted by BTA.
In 2018, Belgium ordered 34 F-35 fighters from the American company "Lockheed Martin" from the then Defense Minister Steven Vandeput. The first aircraft are already ready and at the "Luke" air base pilot training is taking place in Arizona.
The current Belgian government aims to buy more fighter jets soon, as stipulated in the coalition agreement. According to Franken, these should be F-35s.
"However, I asked the Italian defense minister if we could produce them in Italy instead of in the United States, which would create more jobs," Franken said in an interview with a Belgian media outlet.
It is unclear whether the new aircraft, produced in Europe, will be considered European purchases - a requirement of the EU in order to be able to take out more defense loans.