Belgium plans largest ammunition order, announces early NH90 helicopter retirement

BELFAST — Theo Francken, Belgium’s defense minister, said in a series of new updates today that the country is eyeing up its largest-ever ammunition order, and will soon retire NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTHs), as he labelled the rotary acquisition a “bad purchase.”

Francken did not share any additional details related to the ammunition buy, but local media reported that the procurement package amounts to €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) and will be submitted to the Belgian federal cabinet next week.

“We’re making our country’s biggest ammunition purchase to date,” Francken shared on X, in a translated message. “We’re finally going to be taken seriously.”

In comments heavily critical of the troubled NH90 — a helicopter similarly cancelled or ended prematurely by Australia, Norway and Sweden — Francken said that Belgium’s four TTH standard aircraft will be “decommissioned from September.” He described the rotorcraft as “[e]xtremely expensive to maintain. Replacements to come in 2026.” He did not elaborate on which model of helicopter will succeed the NH90.

NH90-maker NHIndustries (NHI) is a joint venture between Airbus, Leonardo and GKN Fokker. NHI and Airbus had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

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Belgium is one of four partner nations, alongside Germany, Italy and The Netherlands, involved in the NH90 Block 1/Software Release 3 upgrade program, launched last year. The effort envisions a major uplift in capability for the TTH and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) configuration and includes the introduction of a new Link 22 datalink, Leonardo’s LEOSS-T Electro-Optical gimbal, sonar equipment and “additional weapons integration,” according to a NHI statement.

Regarding other business, Francken also alleged that an “unfortunate accident at the [Naval Group] Lorient shipyard” in France “under the company’s responsibility” has led to delay in delivery of the Belgian Navy M940 Oostende — first ship of the City-class mine countermeasures vessels. “No additional cost, but an annoying problem,” Francken commented. “We’ll be keeping a close eye on it!”

Naval Group had not responded to a request for comment about the accident, and Francken did not share further details, though it’s likely a reference to an incident reported in late May.

As part of the Belgian-Dutch Replacement Mine CounterMeasure (rMCM) joint acquisition, Belgium Naval & Robotics, a consortium established by Naval Group and French supplier Exail, is under contract to supply the two nations with 12 vessels.