Air Warfare

Belgian F-16 fleet resumes flights

23rd March 2021 - 09:11 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

RSS

Belgian Air Component F-16s return to operational status, having been grounded earlier in March following an engine incident in February.

The Belgian Air Component gradually resumed F-16 flights last week, including a leading role in Quick Reaction Alert operations over the Benelux region.

Belgian F-16 operations in Jordan (under Operation Desert Falcon) also resumed, the Belgian MoD noted on 19 March.

The entire F-16 fleet (54 aircraft according to Shephard Defence Insight) was grounded in early March following an incident in February, when part of the variable exhaust of the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine on an F-16 became detached after take-off.

‘Additional guidance from the manufacturer and specific inspections and repairs by technical personnel at Kleine Brogel and Florennes airbases have enabled the resumption of air operations on F-16,’ the MoD stated.

As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.