Belgian Armed Forces

[Lord Jim]

Is this an attempt to keep the Rafale N in production in case the French need more to equip a second larger carrier, above the three squadrons already planned? This seems sop out of left field the word "Fantasy", doesn't really cover it.

[ArmChairCivvy]

India bought the "normal" Rafale and put aside $700m for weapons "modifications". However, the naval Rafale comes "nuclear ready", something that can be said of only one of the other contenders "competition that has attracted British and American offers of the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, respectively."
- raises the question as to which nuclear NATO weapons would end up under "double key", which arrangement is important from the treaty (no, not the NATO Treaty) point of view as it does not constitute a "transfer"
- in addition, the Rafale option would provide an "upgrade" over the American free-fall nuke (which itself is currently being upgraded)

Tip of the day: Which nation was it, now, that sent the TTIP to the bin (after a 7-yr negotiation)?

[Defiance]

No way in hell is Belgium getting ASMP-A.

[ArmChairCivvy]

No way in hell is Belgium getting ASMP-A.

I wonder what makes you say that? To quote The Guardian, from as far back as April 2013
"According to newly published budget figures, the US will spend about $10bn (£6.5bn) on a life extension programme for the B61 bombs, and another $1bn on adding controllable tail fins. Kristensen said the tail kit would give the B61 new capabilities, once some of the upgraded weapons were deployed as scheduled in Europe in 2019 or 2020.

"What will be going back to Europe will be a guided nuclear bomb," he said. "Especially when you combine it with F35 with stealth characteristics, that expands the targets you can hold at risk from Europe
[...]
some eastern European states have resisted their withdrawal, fearing it would show a weakening of US commitment to defend them against Russia."

Note that "some...states" relates to 2013 and before, and a lot of things, changing the security and defence climate in Europe, have kicked off since.

Are French and American double keys of different quality?

[Lord Jim]

It would be interesting to see what shape the current "Dual key" arrangements are today say compared to back in the 1980, give how far things have moved on both politically, socially and militarily.

[dmereifield]

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... ealed.html

Belgian figter programme in doubt?

[abc123]

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... ealed.html

Belgian figter programme in doubt?

Of course, they can fly at least until 2100.

[Lord Jim]

At this rate Belgium's armed forces will exist simply to provide personnel to eh Dutch Navy and Air force and battalions sized units to bulk out the Dutch army. When are all European governments going to realise that defence spending is at a level they are all at a serious risk. NATO will soon no longer be able to form effective national formations above battalions level, and have to have multi national formations for anything larger.

[Pseudo]

At this rate Belgium's armed forces will exist simply to provide personnel to eh Dutch Navy and Air force and battalions sized units to bulk out the Dutch army. When are all European governments going to realise that defence spending is at a level they are all at a serious risk. NATO will soon no longer be able to form effective national formations above battalions level, and have to have multi national formations for anything larger.

Isn't that the reality for the European NATO nations capability generally bar France and the UK?

[dmereifield]

Situation seems to be deteriorating...guessing that they won't be ordering any F35s or Typhoons for a good few years yet

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... ement.html

[Smokey]

199 LTTV’s to be supplied by Jankel.

http://www.jankel.com/belgium-army-choo ... -lttv.html

[Lord Jim]

Given their limited budget, any new equipment is good news.

[ArmChairCivvy]

guessing that they won't be ordering any F35s or Typhoons for a good few years yet

Judging from the nuclear tasking [ of the sqdrns that the planes will be for], there might be some deux ex machina at work here:
- as of today, Typhoon would have been a no-goer
- Rafale was always a no-goer; despite the Belgian politics. You can transfer the French missile, but not the warhead

So wait - for just a bit. And all of it will be worked out for you (by the Germans, with deeper pockets. They are now cutting that stitch that they had between their outer and reserve pocket.

[SKB]

(ships, planes and gaming) 11th June 2018

Belgian minesweeper BNS Crocus sails out of HMNB Portsmouth on Monday 11th June 2018

[2HeadsBetter]

Wait - Belgium has armed forces!

[SKB]

Yes! And another came in today! Belgian minehunter Narcis (M923)

(ships, planes and gaming) 15th June 2018

[xav]

ITW with the head of the Belgian Navy

[xav]

[xav]

F-35 (and test pilot) at Belgian Air Force Days

[dmereifield]

Belgium going with the F35, apparently....

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/belgium ... -16-fleet/

[Lord Jim]

If they do it is not a surprise, given their joint approach with the Dutch. Having two different platforms would make much sense.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Belgium going with the F35, apparently....

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/belgium ... -16-fleet/

From that one "January this year the US preemptively approved a sale of 34 F-35 jets to Belgium.

The deal is worth $6.53 billion and is also expected include electronic warfare system and the Autonomic Logistics Information System.

The proposed foreign military sale includes the aircraft, four spare engines"

So six and a half $bn for a std model with no extras and abs. minimal 'starter kit' to support them, vs.
nine+ £bn for our 'special' model' with Brit specials integrated (and 48 of them vs. 34)
- to me those figures would seem to be in line
- just wait for more 'UK special needs' to come out, looking for budget, under the banner: in order to make full use of our huge investment...

[Little J]

From Lockheed...

[xav]

Damen unveiled the design of its MCM Vessel candidate for the Belgian-Dutch Requirement

Our colleagues from Dutch naval defense media marineschepen.nl had the scoop on the mine countermeasure (MCM) vessel design submitted by Damen for the Belgian-Dutch competition. Damen is a Dutch defence, shipbuilding, and engineering conglomerate company based in Gorinchem, Netherlands.

https://www.navalnews.com/news/2019/01/ ... quirement/

[ArmChairCivvy]

Looks great and goes down the mix&match alley, as in "According to marineschepen.nl Damen Imtech Belgium is proposing two different toolboxes, one based on Atlas Elektronik solutions while the other solution relies on OIP Elbit Systems technologies."
- the crane's reach over the side looks like overkill to me, so they may have other toolboxes in mind, too. Like bigger ASVs?