2026-05-15

The F-35A Drag Chute (Brake Parachute) of the Belgian Air Force .

Belgian F-35As can be equipped with an advanced drag chute system. This is a removable pod containing a Kevlar brake parachute, particularly useful on short, wet, slippery or snow-covered runways. The system significantly shortens the braking distance and increases safety, especially on bases with short runways or during deployments in winter, wet or slippery conditions.
The first F-35 FL-009 was observed with this pod at Florennes AB on 12 May 2026. (Alain Frère)
Development and Production
The drag chute system was primarily developed by Lockheed Martin in close cooperation with Norway as the lead partner. Development started around 2012. Belgium also joined and contributed to the funding and integration.
The physical pods (fairings) are manufactured by Fokker Technologies (part of GKN Aerospace in the Netherlands). In 2014, Fokker received the contract for the design, industrialisation and full production of these composite/metal pods in the Netherlands. Lockheed Martin remains the prime contractor and integrator of the complete system. In 2021, Lockheed Martin received a $62 million contract for 56 systems and 190 parachutes for all European F-35A customers, including Belgium.
The pod is a streamlined, stealth-friendly bulge on the upper side of the fuselage, exactly between the two canted vertical stabilisers. It contains the parachute, hydraulic actuators and release mechanism. The pod is a “bolt-on missionized kit”: it can be quickly installed or removed depending on the mission. Activation is done via a simple switch in the cockpit. The system has minimal impact on stealth and flight performance.
Norway often flies with the pod permanently installed. In Belgium (and the Netherlands) it is mission-dependent: not always fitted, but can be quickly mounted when the situation requires it. This gives the Belgian Air Force extra flexibility without every aircraft having to fly permanently with the additional drag.
All Belgian F-35As are prepared during production (pre-wired and structurally reinforced) for this system. Belgium has explicitly included the drag chute system in its F-35 configuration, as officially confirmed by Lockheed Martin. Because it is a removable kit, Belgium is not buying one pod per aircraft. A limited number of pods will be ordered and distributed when a unit needs them.
The exact price for Belgium is not public, but based on the joint contract, the price per complete system (pod + parachute) is around 1 to 1.5 million euros – relatively modest within the F-35 programme.

Info and images: Lockheed Martin, Fokker, RNAF MOD and BAF F35 by Alain Frère
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Source: Aviation Day