List of equipment of the Belgian Air Component

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This page lists the equipment of the Belgian Air Component, the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. After the end of the Cold War the Belgian Air Force was combined into the overall Armed Forces and many units were disbanded. As a part of NATO, the Belgian Air Component has commited aircraft and participates in the NATO Nuclear Weapon Sharing Program.

Contents

Aeroplanes

ModelImageTypeQuantityNotes
Combat aircraft
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon F16 - RIAT 2007 (2368360155).jpg 4th generation multirole fighter aircraft 43

[1]

[2]

F-16AM to be replaced by the F-35A by 2030.

Notes:

  • Dutch and Belgian production of parts under licence, assembly by Fokker and SABCA. [3]
  • 160 F-16A and F16B purchased, 72 went through a MLU. [3]
  • 30 F-16 to be donated to Ukraine by 2028. [4]
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Netherlands F-35A flying with AIM-120 missiles and chaffs.jpg Swing role stealth fighter 0

(+45 on order)

[1]

[5]

The F-35A is the successor of the F-16AM.

  • 34 ordered in 2018 [6]
  • 11 approved for order in 2025 [6] (Italian assembly) [7]
  • 10 additional planned [6]
Transport (and tanker)
Airbus A400M A German Air Force A400M tanker refuels an U.S. Navy FA-18E Super Hornet (2022-02-25) (cropped).jpg Strategic transport

Tactical airlift

Aerial refueling

7 [8]

Based at the Melsbroek Air Base with an additional A400M from the Luxembourg Air Force.

2 A400M are tanker variants with a further 2 refuelling kits that can be used on any A400M to refuel other aircraft. [9]

Training aircraft
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Dsc 9218 36105992190 o (49071825803).jpg Operational conversion training aircraft 8

[1]

[10]

F-16BM is the twin-seater variant of the F-16, used to train pilots. They will be replaced by the F-35A by 2030.

SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 Aermacchi SF260 - SIAI Marchetti SF-260 (44) at Kleine Brogel Air Base, Belgium 2005.JPG Ab initio training aircraft, single engine turboprop 27

[1]

[11]

36 SF.260M/D were purchased in 1969, with some losses since. Aircraft used for basic flight training.

The Belgian Air Component is looking for a successor to this aircraft. [12]

Helicopters

ModelImageRoleQuantityNotes
Combat helicopter
NHIndustries NH90 Belgium Air Force NH90.jpg Multirole helicopter 4

[1]

[13]

Purchase of NH90 TTH was approved in April 2007, and it entered service from 2012 to 2014. [13]

The decision for its retirement was confirmed. Its successor, the Airbus H145M, is planned to arrive in 2026. [14]

NHIndustries NH90 NH Industries NH90-NFH 'RN-02' (cropped).jpg Utility, SAR and ASW helicopter4

[1]

[13]

The NH90 NFH is operated by the Belgian Air Component in profit of the Belgian Naval Component.

Purchase approved in April 2007, and it entered service from 2013 to 2015. [13]

MLU approved with the plan STAR, it will bring an ASW capability to the helicopter. [15]

Agusta A109 A109 - RIAT 2018 (31992849588).jpg Light utility helicopter 12

[1]

[16]

46 A109BA were ordered in 1988, received between 1992 and 1994. 12 helicopters remain in service.

As part of the plan STAR, the A109 will be replaced by the Airbus H145M. [17]

Airbus H145 Tag der Bundeswehr Airbus H145M (cropped).jpg (illustration) Multirole helicopter 0

(+15)

[1]

The Airbus H145M is the successor of the NH90 TTH and A109BA.

15 helicopters were ordered in June 2024, the delivery to start in 2026. [18]

Training helicopter
Airbus H145 Tag der Bundeswehr Airbus H145M (cropped).jpg (illustration)Training helicopter3

[1]

[19]

Training provided by a contractor, NHV (Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen  [ de ]). [1]

Unmanned aerial vehicles

ModelImageTypeRoleQuantityNotes
General Atomics MQ-9 Skyguardian Mq-9-reaper.jpg MALE, fixed-wing UCAV

Medium-altitude long-endurance

 Surveillance and reconnaissance 0

(+4 on order)

[20]

[20]

2 ground stations for the 4 MQ-9B. [21] [22]

Co-owned aeroplanes

The Belgian Air Component participates in some multinational programs to provide some support capabilities that it does not need full-time such as tanker transport aircraft and early-warning capabilities.

ModelOperatorsImageTypeQuantityNotes
Aerial refueling
Airbus A330 MRTT

Multi-Role Tanker Transport

 MMF  [ de ]

MultinationalMRTT Fleet

 A330-243MRTT T-059 (cropped).jpg

Refueling, ILA 2024, Schoenefeld (ILA45423) (cropped).jpg

Tanker / transport aircraft / medical evacuation 9

(+3 on order)

[23]

[24]

Based at the Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands. [25]

  • 2 ordered in July 2016 (first members Netherlands and Luxembourg) [26]
  • 5 ordered in September 2018 (Germany and Norway joined the programme) [27]
  • 1 ordered in February 2018 (Belgium joined the programme) [26]
  • 1 ordered in September 2020 (Luxembourg increases participation) [28]
  • 1 ordered in March 2023 (Belgium increases participation) [29]
  • 2 ordered in June 2025 (arrival of Sweden and Denmark in the programme) [30]

The first aircraft entered service in June 2020, the ninth in February 2025).

Air surveillance
Boeing E-3A Sentry NAEW&CF programme

(NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force)

 LX-N90443 Boeing E-3A Sentry NATO 25years colorscheme--Geilenkirchen 2007 P1010513 (50852828422).jpg AEW&C

(Airborne early warning and control)

14

[23]

[31]

Based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany.

18 E-3 used initially, and to be replaced by the E-7 Wedgetail, of which 6 were ordered in January 2024. [32] [33]

Boeing E-7A Wedgetail USAF E-7A (cropped).jpg AEW&C

(Airborne early warning and control)

0

(+ 6 on order)

[23]

Weapons systems

The Belgian Air Component has various weapons systems, primarily for the F-16, including air-to-air missiles, such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder, [34] guided and unguided bombs as well as guidance kits such as Paveway. [35] The Belgian Air Component also stores B61 nuclear bombs at the Kleine Brogel Air Base as part of NATO's nuclear deterrance plans. [36] [37]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "WORLD AIR FORCES 2025 - Page 14". Archived from the original on 24 July 2025.
  2. ↑ Defensie, Ministerie van (2024-10-08). "F-35 Lightning II-jachtvliegtuig - Koninklijke Luchtmacht - Defensie.nl". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  3. 1 2 "F-16.net - The ultimate F-16, F-35 and F-22 reference". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  4. ↑ "Belgium to deliver first F-16s to Ukraine this year — with strings attached". POLITICO. 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  5. ↑ Defensie, Ministerie van (2024-10-08). "F-35 Lightning II-jachtvliegtuig - Koninklijke Luchtmacht - Defensie.nl". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  6. 1 2 3 NWS, VRT (2025-07-02). "Belgium to buy 11 additional F-35 fighter-jets, 21 'not feasible' at the minute | VRT NWS: news". VRTNWS. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  7. ↑ Gosselin-Malo, Elisabeth (2025-06-09). "Belgium braces for first F-35 delivery this fall". Defense News. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  8. ↑ "Airbus A400M". Belgian Wings (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  9. ↑ "Page 7 - EDA Air-to-Air Refuelling Conference 12/09/2018 – Opening Remarks Minister of Defence Steven Vandeput" (PDF). 12 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Lockheeed Martin F-16B(M)". Belgian Wings (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  11. ↑ "Marchetti SF.260M/D". Belgian Wings (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  12. ↑ UK, Flightline (2025-04-22). "AIRSHOW NEWS: Belgian Air & Space Component Red Devils pause activities". Airshow Dates, News and Reviews for the UK & Europe - Flightline UK. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "NHIndustries NH90". Belgian Wings (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  14. ↑ Martin, Tim (2025-07-10). "Belgium plans largest ammunition order, announces early NH90 helicopter retirement". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  15. ↑ Gain, Nathan (2022-09-06). "The STAR Plan: New Capabilities in Sight for the Belgian Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  16. ↑ "Agusta A109". Belgian Wings (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  17. ↑ alert5 (2023-03-14). "Belgium to buy 15 helicopters to replace its A109 and NH90 helicopters". Alert 5. Retrieved 2025-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ "Belgium chooses Airbus H145M for Armed Forces and Federal Police | Airbus". www.airbus.com. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "NHV Group creates training grounds for aircraft technicians – Helicopters MagazineHelicopters Magazine". www.helicoptersmagazine.com. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Belgium – MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)" (PDF). 26 March 2019.
  21. ↑ "Belgium, UK Sign MoU on MQ-9B Co-operation". 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  22. ↑ Garrett-Glaser, Brian (2019-03-26). "Belgium to Purchase Four MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drones for $600 Million". Defense Daily. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  23. 1 2 3 "Page 25 - World Air Forces Directory 2025". Archived from the original on 24 July 2025.
  24. ↑ "Strategic airlift". 7 March 2024.
  25. ↑ Defensie, Ministerie van (2020-07-10). "Multi Role Tanker Transport Capability - International cooperation - Defensie.nl". english.defensie.nl. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  26. 1 2 "Belgium joins Allied effort to deliver air-to-air refueling capacity". 14 February 2018.
  27. ↑ "Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet expands significantly - Germany and Norway to join the MMF". 26 September 2017.
  28. ↑ "NATO Adds Ninth A330 Tanker/Transport | AIN". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  29. ↑ "NATO Support and Procurement Agency orders additional Airbus A330 MRTT | Airbus". www.airbus.com. 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  30. ↑ "NATO orders two additional Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft and welcomes Sweden and Denmark to the Multinational Fleet | Airbus". www.airbus.com. 2025-06-23. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  31. ↑ "AWACS: NATO's 'eyes in the sky'". 30 July 2025.
  32. ↑ "E-7A Wedgetail – Successor to the NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft". esut.de. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  33. ↑ Tirpak, John (2023-11-17). "NATO Picks E-7 as Its New AWACS; Six Aircraft to Start". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  34. ↑ "Arms transfer database". armstransfers.sipri.org. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
  35. ↑ "Weaponsystem - F-16 - Kleine-Brogel Air Base". kleinebrogelairbase.be. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
  36. ↑ "Experte: Zehn amerikanische Atombomben in Kleine-Brogel". BRF Nachrichten (in German). 2022-10-22. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
  37. ↑ NATO. "NATO's nuclear deterrence policy and forces". NATO. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
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