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The Belgian army in the process of specialization

(B2) Specialization has started in the Belgian army which has started several equipment and training programs with its neighbours.

In a few years, the flat country will no longer have its own fighter planes. The F-16 fighter jets it currently owns are not expected to be replaced. As of now, maintenance is guaranteed to a minimum. The objective is rather to acquire unmanned aircraft. The Netherlands will continue to act as a manned fighter aircraft (with their F-35s). While Belgium will specialize in transport aviation (with its seven Airbus A400M). In addition, all Belgian aircraft, both tactical (Hercules, future A400M) and strategic, have joined the European Air Transport Command. And pilot training is carried out jointly with the French at the Cazaux air base.

As for the Belgian fleet, which trains regularly in Den Helder, the main port for Royal Navy ships, it should now be based more often in Holland than in its official home port (the port of Zeebrugge).

(NVP)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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