The strategic committee appointed earlier this year by Ludivine Dedonder, the Belgian Minister of Defense, to think about the future of the Belgian army has issued its report. This was presented to the Parliament’s Defense Committee on Wednesday 23 June. The twelve experts recommend going beyond the existing Strategic Vision, both in terms of personnel (more personnel) and investment in equipment, in particular by acquiring more F-35A fighter jets.
In 2016, the Michel government and its Minister of Defense, Steven Vandeput, had developed a “Strategic Vision for Defense” for 2030, Antoine Clevers recalls in La Libre Belgique. In particular, it provided for an army of 25,000 men and women (including 1,000 civilians) at the end of the decade, against 31,000 (including 1,500 civilians) in 2016. There was also a long list of material investments (included in a law of military programming) valued at the time at some 9.2 billion euros over the period. Among these, the famous Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters (34 in total), two frigates, six minehunter ships, drones, participation in the MRTT tanker program with other European countries, more of 400 armored vehicles, etc.
At the personnel level, a total of 25,000 units is considered insufficient. For the experts, the staff must be reinforced, in particular within the Land Component and in the Cyber domain.
As for the equipment, the expert committee advises going all out. The most spectacular recommendations are:
- increasing the F-35 capacity through the acquisition of additional aircraft (NATO is asking Belgium to increase to 45) and drones capable of accompanying the F-35As, as well as the acquisition of long-range air-to-air missiles and cruise missiles;
- arming of the future four General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones;
- participation in NATO ballistic missile defense (BMD);
- participation in the future Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS);
- acquisition of new medium-size helicopter ;
- acquisition of short take-off and landing (STOL) airplanes for the Special Forces.