The Belgian army acquires a motorized brigade
(B2) Belgium has had a motorized brigade since November 22, formed from the former Median Brigade.
Evolution necessary in the face of evolving threats
Main mission as expressed by Colonel Jean-Louis Crucifix, Commander of the Brigade: " synchronize the effects of combat units, combat support units and other services ". " This is necessary to respond to geopolitical developments and the growing number of threats that Belgium is currently facing. " he added. " Nothing changes for the units “, reassured the head of the land component, Major General Marc Thys. " Their missions remain the same, but we will now be able to work together, more and more as a team.."
New equipment to come
These units will be partly equipped with new armored vehicles Griffin and Jaguar developed within the framework of a strategic partnership with France (programme known as CaMo as Motorized Capability), as well as the Scorpion connected radio system (Scorpion Combat Information System), and therefore fully operable with the French.
Combat, artillery, engineer and communications units
In practice, the five combat units of the Median Brigade now become the combat units of the Motorized Brigade. These are the 1/3 battalion of Lancers, the battalion of Chasseurs Ardennais, the Liberation battalion – 5 Line, the battalion 1 Carabiniers / 1 Grenadiers and the 12th Line Prince Léopold / 13th Line battalion.
They will be supported by the Chasseurs à Cheval battalion, the artillery battalion, the 4th and 11th Engineer battalions. For logistics and communications support, the new brigade can count on the 4th and 18th Logistics Battalions as well as on the 4th and 10th 'Communication and Information Systems Groups' (CIS).
The Marche-en-Famenne and Beverlo training camps will later be added to the new brigade.
The headquarters of the Motorized Brigade will be on two sites, thus respecting the linguistic balance of the country: a headquarters in Leopoldsburg / Bourg-Léopold (Flanders) and another in Marche-en-Famenne (Wallonia) where the commander of the brigade will have its office.
(NGV)