List of equipment of the Belgian Air Force
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This page lists the equipment of the Belgian Air Force, the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. After the end of the Cold War the Belgian Air Force was combined into the overall Armed Forces and many units were disbanded. As a part of NATO, the Belgian Air Component committed aircraft and participated in the NATO Nuclear Weapon Sharing Program. In 2024 Belgian Air Component was renamed the Belgian Air Force.
Aeroplanes
| Model | Variant | Image | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | |||||
| General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon | F-16AM | .jpg) |
4th generation multirole fighter aircraft | 44[1] | [2]
To be replaced by the F-35A by 2030. Notes: |
| Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II | F-35A |  |
Multirole stealth fighter | 4[1] | [2]
The F-35A is the successor of the F-16AM.
Eight based at the Luke AFB for training (listed in "Training aircraft" section of this table). |
| Transport (and tanker) | |||||
| Airbus A400M | — | _(cropped).jpg) |
Strategic transport / Tactical airlift / Aerial refueling | 7[1] | [7]
Based at the Melsbroek Air Base with an additional A400M from the Luxembourg Air Wing. Two A400M are tanker variants with a further two refuelling kits that can be used on any A400M to refuel other aircraft.[8] |
| Dassault Falcon 7X | — | .jpg) |
VIP transport | 2 | Aircraft leased.[9] |
| Training aircraft | |||||
| Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II | F-35A | |
Operational conversion training aircraft | 8[1] | Based at the Luke AFB for training. Four more F-35 listed in the "Combat aircraft" section of this table. |
| General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon | F-16BM | .jpg) |
Operational conversion training aircraft | 8[1] | [10]
F-16BM is the twin-seater variant of the F-16, used to train pilots. They will be replaced by the F-35A by 2030. |
| Pilatus PC-7 | PC-7 MKX | .jpg) |
Basic training aircraft, single engine turboprop | 0 | Approval to purchase 18 aircraft in November 2025.[11] |
| SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 | — | _at_Kleine_Brogel_Air_Base,_Belgium_2005.JPG) |
Ab initio training aircraft, single engine turboprop | 19[1] | [12]
36 SF.260M/D were purchased in 1969, with some losses since. Aircraft used for basic flight training. The Belgian Air Force was looking for a successor to this aircraft. In November 2025 the PC-7 was ordered as replacement.[13] |
Helicopters
| Model | Variant | Image | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat helicopter | |||||
| NHIndustries NH90 | NH90 NFH | .jpg) |
SAR / Utility | 4[1] | [14]
The NH90 NFH is operated by the Belgian Air Force in profit of the Belgian Navy. Purchase approved in April 2007, and it entered service from 2013 to 2015.[14] MLU approved with the plan STAR, it will bring an ASW capability to the helicopter.[15] |
| AgustaWestland AW109 | A109BA | .jpg) |
Light utility helicopter | 10[1] | [16]
A total of 46 A109BA were ordered in 1988, received between 1992 and 1994. Twelve helicopters remain in service. As part of the plan STAR, the A109BA will be replaced by the Airbus H145M.[17] |
| Airbus H145 | H145M | .jpg) (illustration) |
Multirole helicopter | 0
(+ 15 on order)[1] |
The Airbus H145M is the successor of the NH90 TTH and A109BA. Fifteen helicopters for the Belgian Armed Forces were ordered in June 2024, with delivery to start in 2026.[1][18] |
| Multirole helicopter / Federal Police | 0
(+ 5 on order)[19] |
The Belgian government also approved a purchase of five Airbus H145M in November 2025, three of which will be available for both Air Force and Federal Police.[20][19] The two other were earlier purchased for the Federal Police under the Minister of Interior, but maintenance will also be done by the Air Force.[19][21] | |||
Unmanned aerial vehicles
| Model | Variant | Image | Type | Role | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper | MQ-9B SkyGuardian |  |
MALE, fixed-wing UCAV
Medium-altitude long-endurance |
Surveillance and reconnaissance, targeted strikes | 3 | [22] |
Aircraft owned externally
Co-owned aeroplanes
The Belgian Air Force participates in some multinational programs to provide some support capabilities that it does not need full-time such as tanker transport aircraft and early-warning capabilities.
| Model | Variant | Operators | Image | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial refueling | |||||||
| Airbus A330 MRTT
Multi-Role Tanker Transport |
A330-200 MRTT | MMF
Multinational MRTT Fleet |
.jpg)
|
 European Union |
Tanker / Transport aircraft / Medical evacuation | 9
(+ 3 on order)[1] |
[26]
Based at the Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands.[27]
The first aircraft entered service in June 2020, the ninth in February 2025. |
| Air surveillance | |||||||
| Boeing E-3 Sentry | E-3A | NAEW&CF programme
NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force |
.jpg) |
 United States |
AEW&C
Airborne early warning and control |
14[1] | [33]
Based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany. 18 E-3 used initially. |
_(cropped).jpg)
Leased aeroplanes
| Model | Variant | Image | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dassault Falcon 7X | — | |
VIP transport | 2 | Aircraft leased.[9] |
Supplied by a contractor
| Model | Variant | Image | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus H145 | — | (illustration) |
Training helicopter | 3 | [35]
Training provided by a contractor, NHV (Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen).[34] |
Weapons systems
The Belgian Air Force has various weapons systems, primarily for the F-16 and F-35, including air-to-air missiles, such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder,[36] and the AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM,[37] guided and unguided bombs as well as guidance kits such as Paveway.[38]
Belgium also ordered Brimstone[39] and Hellfire[40] air-launched ground attack missiles for the Skyguardian drones, as well as Joint Strike Missiles,[41] air-launched cruise missile, for the F-35's.
The Belgian Air Force also stores B61 nuclear bombs at the Kleine Brogel Air Base as part of NATO's nuclear deterrence plans.[42][43]
