US Pitches 34 F-35 Jets Worth $6.53 Billion for Belgian Fighter Replacement Competition

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Belgium of 34 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take Off and Landing aircraft for an estimated cost of $6.53 billion.

This proposal is being offered in the context of a competition, a US Defence Security Cooperation Agency release said.

If the proposal is accepted, it is expected that offset agreements will be required. All offsets are defined in negotiations between the Purchaser and the contractor, the release added.

The Government of Belgium has requested to buy 34 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft, and 38 Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines (34 installed, 4 spares), the release said. However, since the request is in the context of an ongoing competition, it should be seen as a proposal to buy.

Also included are Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence/Communications, Navigational, and Identification (C4I/CNI); Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS); Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS); Full Mission Trainer; Weapons Employment Capability, and other Subsystems, Features, and Capabilities; F-35 unique infrared flares.

The support package includes; Reprogramming center; F-35 Performance Based Logistics; software development/integration; aircraft ferry and tanker support; support equipment; tools and test equipment; communications equipment; spares and repair parts; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documents; U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.The estimated total case value is $6.53 billion.

The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, TX; and Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, CT.

Boeing F/A-18, Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale have also made pitches to sell aircraft to Belgium.