Belgian Frigate’s Deployment Delays as Missile Gets Stuck
Belgian frigate Louise-Marie’s (F931) deployment for the Red Sea was delayed as the RIM-7 anti-aircraft missile got stuck in the launch tube.
Belgium News
Navy / Maritime
Weapon / Missile
Land
Navy / Maritime
Ammunition
Bilateral Relations
Belgium Sends 3 Minesweepers to Kyiv, but Lessons Learned
Belgium announced a new “package” of defence aid to Ukraine totalling 412 million euros, which included armoured vehicles and minesweepers.
Weapon / Missile
Cockerill Reveals 1030 Turret With C-UAS Capabilities
John Cockerill Defence has revealed a 1030 30 mm turret with airburst ammunition capability to counter UAVs.
Air
Lockheed Martin Unveils Belgium’s first F-35A Order
Lockheed Martin officially showed the first F-35A Lightning II jet ordered by Belgium. The ceremony was held at the company’s production facility.
Air
Defence Politics
Belgium to Join Franco-German FCAS Program in 2025
Belgium intends to join the German-French Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.
Country
Pie: Defence Budgets of European Countries Increased Due to the War
Jan Pie, Secretary General of the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe announced that Europe is preparing for the war economy.
Air
Bilateral Relations
Belgium changes its mind about sending F-16s to Ukraine
Previously reluctant to send F-16s to Ukraine, now Belgium says it will supply Fighting Falcons to Kyiv starting in 2025.
Air
Modernisation
Belgian F-16s may Have Cracks in the Fuselage
Belgium may not send F-16s to Ukraine as it finds cracks in aircraft that will put the pilot's life in danger.
Navy / Maritime
Dutch ASW Frigates to be in Service by 2029
Royal Netherlands Navy plans to construct four new Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates with many innovations. The first vessel will be in service by 2029.
Navy / Maritime
Belgium Acquires Two New ASW Frigates
Belgium decided to buy new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates for the Belgian Navy to replace Karel Doorman-class ones.
Weapon / Missile
Bilateral Relations
Belgium Procures 120 AMRAAM
The State Department approved FMS to Belgium of AIM-120C-8 (AMRAAM) and related equipment for a total estimated cost of $380 million.
Simulator / AI / Drill/ Software
EDA's MHTC takes shape as Technical Arrangement is signed
European Defence Agency (EDA) announced on its website that the Technical Arrangement (TA) defining the organisation, missions, and responsibilities of the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) at Sintra Airbase in Portugal was signed by 14 founding countries on June 28. The founding countries are; Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Greek Cyprus, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, and Sweden. The signing marks the beginning of the Centre’s technical and logistical development, which is expected to become a reference for multination military helicopter training.
Air
Airbus Delivers Delayed A400M to Belgium and Luxembourg
Originally slated for December, Airbus delivered a new A400M to the binational BNU A400M unit in Melsbroek on January 14th. In the early afternoon, the plane arrived in Belgium from Seville, Spain. While the C-130s are no longer in service, the Belgian-Luxembourg fleet currently includes six aircraft out of eight, including seven for Belgium and one for Luxembourg, which will make up the difference at the end.
Air
Unmanned Systems
Belgium Meets with the SkyGuardians
Belgian Air Force shared the photos of new SkyGuardian MQ-9B UAVs that will be stationed at Florennes airbase. Belgium has acquired four UAVs from the manufacturer General Atomics.
