Belgium rebuilds air defences

A Belgian Mistral MANPADS team during ‘Exercise Aegis 2026'. (Belgian MoD/Gert-Jan D'haene)

Belgium is rebuilding its air defences, starting with the Mistral manportable air defence system (MANPADS) that has re-entered service after being phased out at the end of 2017. The Belgian Artillery Battalion's Mistral platoon participated with Mistral in Exercise ‘Aegis 2026' hosted by France in Provence in October.

The platoon is integrated into France's 54th Artillery Regiment, whose commander was quoted on the Belgian Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) website on 7 October as saying the Belgian unit has undergone the same training as its French counterparts and receives his orders under the same procedures.

Captain Louis, who was identified only by his first name, said, “the Belgian army is rediscovering this capability today. The Belgian soldiers thus bring a fresh perspective to my exercise, which allows me to improve my approach.” Noting that Mistral is a French weapon system, the Belgian MoD said this cooperation is part of the strategic cooperation between the two countries.

The Mistral platoon is the only Belgian Artillery Battalion unit equipped with Mistral, with a full operational capability since the second quarter of 2026. By the end of 2026, a second platoon is planned to reach an initial operational capability.

This will be followed by the delivery of Serval Véhicule Blindé Multi-rôles (VBMR) light multirole armoured vehicles available in three versions: défense sol-air d'accompagnement (accompanying surface-to-air defence, DSA), lutte anti-drones (counter-unmanned aerial vehicle, LAD), and a radar variant.