Belgium wants additional F-35 jets to be ‘as European as possible,’ says defense minister
A contract for the top-up order of the stealth aircraft will be signed “this year," Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken told Breaking Defense.
Belgium plans largest ammunition order, announces early NH90 helicopter retirement
In comments heavily critical of the troubled NH90, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said that Belgium's four TTH standard aircraft will be "decommissioned from September."
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Belgium signs declaration with Poland to boost air power and MANPADS capabilities
The plan from Belgium to acquire hundreds of MANPADS comes at time when Europe is investing heavily in rearmament initiatives and urgent efforts to shore up its defenses.
Belgian defense minister: FCAS, GCAP 6th-gen fighter projects show Europe failing to integrate
"There's [got] to be one European sixth-generation fighter jet, and then we can sell it to all the world. [That's] not the way we're doing it for the moment, and it's very frustrating," Minister Theo Francken said.
Belgium getting 17 new H145M helicopters from Airbus
Two of the helicopters will go towards Belgium's police, while the rest will enter the army's inventory.
Czech PM bullish on ammo plan for Ukraine, envisions 1.5 million rounds in a year
“The purpose of our initiative is to find ammunition on the world markets, to negotiate the financing and to potentially negotiate deliveries to Ukraine,” said Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
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EXCLUSIVE: F-35A officially certified to carry nuclear bomb
The designation marks the first time that a stealth fighter can carry a nuclear weapon, in this case the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb.
Belgium’s John Cockerill to acquire French land vehicles maker Arquus
John Cockerill says it is targeting an annual turnover of €1 billion ($1.1 billion) with this acquisition.
Belgium presented with first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
In all, Brussels expects to receive 34 F-35s in what was previously estimated to be a $6.3 billion deal.
Portugal’s air force chief has a ‘vision’ for the F-35, but for now it’s just that
“This is a vision for the future, so there is currently no process of acquiring aircraft to replace the F-16s,” a spokesperson from the office of Portugal’s defense minister Helena Carreiras, told Breaking Defense.
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Belgium to join Europe’s FCAS next-gen fighter program in June 2025
Once Brussels joins the program, details about the role it will play at both a funding and an industrial level are expected to be shared.
Netherlands and Belgium agree $4.4 billion deal for 4 ASW Frigates
Letters from the Netherlands Ministry of Defense to Parliament, obtained by Breaking Defense, offer details of the frigate plans, including what guns they hope to host.
F-35 program pauses engine acceptance as crash investigation continues
The news comes just a few days after prime contractor Lockheed Martin reached an agreement with the government on a $30 billion contract for hundreds more F-35s.
Belgium, Lithuania to buy French-made Caesar artillery system
Truck-mounted system will weigh much more, but also be heavily armored.