Belgium

Belgium’s NHV has become the latest offshore helicopter operator to adopt Airbus’ H160 twin-engine medium rotorcraft.

Belgium’s Air Force becomes the first European military customer for Cessna’s SkyCourier, acquiring five aircraft for special forces operations with modifications for rapid personnel and equipment transport.

The European Commission will take a few more months to finalize requirements for its future Earth Observation Government Service (EOGS) program.

Belgium and Italy have been approved to acquire Lockheed Martin-made air-to-ground weaponry from the U.S. by the State Department.

In the competition to provide Belgium with a new fleet of training aircraft, Switzerland's Pilatus has revealed it teamed with local companies in its successful proposal.

Belgium has selected Pilatus’ PC-7 MKX turboprop trainer as part of an effort to recapitalize its training aircraft fleet.

Germany is providing counter-drone support to its neighbor Belgium after a spate of unidentified UAS sightings, including near military facilities.

Three F-35s arrived at the Florennes Air Base on Oct. 13, marking the type’s official incorporation into the Belgian Air Force.

A move to increase air taxes in Belgium has been met with criticism from airlines, amid a broader debate on air ticket taxes in Europe.

Skyports Drone Services has launched a medical delivery trial in Belgium with the drones flying to hospitals controlled from its UK remote operations center.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

“We have no lessons to learn from arrogant industrialists,” says Defense Minister Theo Francken in response to Dassault's comments about Belgium and FCAS.

Belgium has no solid basis to become a full partner in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier says.

Belgium will acquire 11 additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, boosting its planned fleet for 45 aircraft.

Belgium will halt operations with its land-based NH90 tactical transport helicopters, aiming to replace them in 2026, Defense Minister Theo Francken says.

The UK committed to F-35A nuclear-capable aircraft and joined others in Europe in signaling a greater burden-sharing role in NATO.

The UK's plans to buy a fleet of F-35As to carry out NATO’s dual capable aircraft nuclear mission have made headlines in the country.

Belgium’s government has agreed to spend €34 billion ($39.5 billion) on defense equipment through 2034, Defense Minister Theo Francken has announced.

Five additional NATO members have joined a coalition of western countries aiming to help Ukraine bolster its electronic warfare capabilities.

Canada, Denmark, Norway and Poland have joined a NATO project to increase flight training capacity and reduce reliance on facilities in the U.S.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Turkey and Belgium are planning to join a multinational effort to provide drones to Ukraine, the Latvian government that leads the effort with the UK said.

Italy and Spain are testing the limits of what qualifies as military expenditure in their efforts to meet NATO’s 2% of GDP defense spending target.

Belgium will arm its F-35 Joint Strike Fighters with standoff weapons and acquire a new fleet of search-and-rescue helicopters, a policy note says.

Belgium is set to acquire additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters as part of plans to grow the country’s defense spending to the equivalent of 2% of GDP.