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What is today the Belgian Air Component was founded back in 1909
What exists today as the Belgian Air Component, or the Luchtcomponent to be specific, was founded in 1909 as a branch of the Belgian Army, as a result of King Albert’s continued interest in military aviation. During its early years, pilots were required to obtain civil pilot credentials before attempting to earn military ones. By the time 1911 came around, the organization established a school of military aviation and received its first aircraft from manufacturer Baron Pierre de Caters.
The organization’s earliest milestones included the first European attempt to fire machine guns from aircraft, which it was able to do in 1912. During the First World War, Belgium’s air force had grown to include a small fleet of Farman and Bleriot-built aircraft, which had been quickly modified for combat. The force was the first to introduce dedicated fighter planes, equipping them with machine guns. Belgium’s first aerial victory was recorded in 1916 after it had established a dedicated fighter squadron. By 1918, the organization now had 44 aircraft and played a key role in Allied operations against Germany.
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During the interbellum period, the organization operated several Belgian-built aircraft, including the Breguet 19, although none of these domestic designs were ever mass-produced. During World War II, the Belgian Army Air Force was equipped with a combination of domestic and foreign-built aircraft, including Renard R-31s and British-built Hawker Hurricanes.
During the German invasion of Belgium, the air force suffered heavy losses to the more technologically advanced Luftwaffe and decided to bolster its combat capabilities by purchasing foreign-built aircraft. Despite the surrender of Belgium in May 1940 to the Nazis, a small Belgian air force was still able to operate from exile, serving with the British Royal Air Force’s volunteer reserve. In this capacity, Belgian pilots operated Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Typhoons throughout the war.
The Cold War and recent decades
In the years following the Second World War, the Belgian Air Force became a separate entity from the Belgian Army and began extensive operations in the Belgian Congo. The organization took part in Allied efforts throughout the Cold War, expanding its fleet and combat capabilities. In the years following the Cold War, Belgium restructured its armed forces and significantly reduced its air combat capabilities. The organization restructured following the collapse of the Soviet Union, reorganizing as the Belgian Air Component.
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The new force had a much smaller fleet, with just a handful of General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons in its inventory. By 2012, there were only 60 in the organization’s fleet, and were based out of just two air bases: Florennes Air Base and Kleine Brogel Air Base. Lockheed C-130s were supplemented by European-built Airbus A400M aircraft, and NH90 helicopters were introduced to replace older models.
During the 1990s, Belgian Air Forces were active in major NATO missions, including patrolling Yugoslavian airspace during the Allied intervention in the Balkans. Belgian F-16 Falcons carried out 679 sorties, marking the first time the organization had taken part in any conflict since the Second World War. During the 1990s, the organization was hit by one major tragic incident. In 1996, a Belgian C-140 crashed in Eindhoven, resulting in the deaths of over 30 passengers.
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During the 2000s, Belgian fighters still played an important role in NATO operations, including when they were deployed to patrol Baltic airspace and for missions over Afghanistan. EU peacekeeping missions in the Congo and Bosnia also used Belgian-provided helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. During the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya, the Belgian Air Component deployed six F-16 Falcons, which flew over 1,000 hours of combat missions.
Looking towards the future
In 2018, the Belgian government selected the F-35A to replace its aging fleet of F-16 fighters, ordering 34 units at a cost of over $4 billion, according to Reuters. The first deliveries of Belgian F-35s took place last year and came alongside continued efforts to modernize the organization’s fleet with new helicopters, including both utility helicopters and ones for transport. The Belgian Air Component has also continued to strengthen its ties with neighboring allies. In 2015, officials from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg came to terms on a joint aerial policing agreement. Since 2017, Belgian and Dutch F-16s have worked together to provide air defense for the entire Benelux region.
The Belgian Air Component has also taken part in multiple multinational initiatives, such as conducting precision strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria. Belgian F-16s, which were supported by medical evacuation helicopters, played a key role in French-led interventions in Mali. An integral element of NATO’s global defense network, the Belgian Air Component plays a key role in patrolling regional airspace, while also taking part in large-scale missions.
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So what aircraft exactly does the Belgian Air Component operate?
Today, the core of the Belgian Air Component consists of both combat aircraft and transport aircraft, which are capable of performing dozens of different missions, from maintaining air superiority to precision strikes. In addition to these aircraft, the organization operates helicopters, and trainer aircraft, and will soon operate drones. Specific details for each model can be seen in the table below, according to data from FlightGlobal:
Aircraft type:
Role:
Number in Belgian Air Component inventory:
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Multirole fighter
45
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Multirole stealth fighter
5 (with 29 still on order)
Airbus A400M Atlas
Transport
7
Dassault Falcon 7X
VIP transport
2
AgustaWestland AW109
Medical evacuation and reconnaissance helicopter
12
NHIndustries NH90
Utility helicopter
8
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260
Trainer
29
Converted F-16 Trainers
Jet Trainers
8
A few major changes are in the works for the organization, with the most high-profile of which being the 29 F-35 fighter jets that the organization is yet to receive. The Belgian Air Component’s helicopter fleet will also receive a complete refresh soon, with older AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters set to be retired and replaced by the Airbus H145M. The force has an order for 15 such helicopters that has yet to be filled by European manufacturer Airbus.
Photo: Lockheed Martin
Lastly, the organization is also set to receive new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which will offer the Belgian Air Component next-generation strike and reconnaissance capabilities. Four MQ-9 Reaper drones are on order from manufacturer General Atomics and are set to be delivered in 2025. Like most other NATO air forces, the Belgian Air Component is preparing its fleet for the next thirty years by introducing next-generation fighter jets and retiring older aircraft from its fleet to replace them with more modern alternatives.
Airbus
Stock Code
AIR
Business Type
Planemaker
Date Founded
December 18, 1970
CEO
Guillaume Faury
Headquarters Location
Toulouse, France
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Publish date : 2025-01-27 22:01:00
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