Belgium strengthens its air defense

Main information – Belgium strengthens its air defense

• Belgium will partially produce the AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles on its territory thanks to a partnership with FN Herstal.
• This agreement responds to previous concerns concerning the limited advantages of local manufacturing in the context of weapon purchases belgium strengthens its air defense abroad.
• Belgium’s decision reflects NATO’s trend to produce locally. Similarly, to diversify supply chains in order to reduce the risk of dependence.

The efforts made by Belgium to strengthen its air defense capacities have led. In addition, to a significant agreement authorizing the partial partial production of AIM-20120 Missiles Amraam. Consequently, The agreement. Consequently, concluded between the American defense company RTX and the Belgian weapons manufacturer FN Herstal, gives the latter the responsibility to assemble the missiles from the components provided. This development is part of a broader supply effort in Belgium linked to the acquisition of Nasams Norwegian air. defense systems.

Establishment of local production

Although an immediate production in Belgium is not planned. FN Herstal will need time to set up facilities and train staff. In the meantime, Belgium can count on missile stocks borrowed from Poland for operational deployment. The AMRAAM belgium strengthens its air defense production agreement responds to previous criticisms concerning the limited industrial return of the previous purchases of weapons abroad. By entrusting the final assembly work to a Belgian company. the agreement aims to promote the roles of national manufacturing and to reduce dependence on assembly chains based in the United States.

Belgium’s decision to acquire ten NASAMs batteries (nine for Belgium. one for Luxembourg) is part of a joint acquisition effort with the Netherlands worth 2.5 billion euros. NASAMS systems are essential to protect key infrastructure such as Antwerp. Zeebrugge ports, which makes it possible to remedy the vulnerability of Belgium in terms of European air defense.

Global demand. diversification of the supply chain

The increase in the production capacity of Amraam since 2022 reflects the growth of global demand, in particular following the transfer of stocks to Ukraine. RTX aims to double its annual production by 2025 to meet the belgium strengthens its air defense needs of American. foreign customers, including European countries which have placed large -scale orders for various variants of Amraam.

The acquisition of NASAMs by Belgium is part of a larger investment of 4 billion euros in land defense. requiring significant funding for staff training, infrastructure development and ammunition stocks. The agreement with FN Herstal marks a tendency to localized production. the diversification of supply chains among NATO members who seek to alleviate the risks of dependence and strengthen their own industrial defense bases.