Belgium signs declaration with Poland to boost air power and MANPADS capabilities
The plan from Belgium to acquire hundreds of MANPADS comes at time when Europe is investing heavily in rearmament initiatives and urgent efforts to shore up its defenses.
The Polish made Piorun MANPAD is designed to strike fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and drones at short range (Belgian MoD)
BELFAST — Belgium and Poland have inked a “declaration of intent” to strengthen the western European nation’s air and space power capabilities, while also opening the way for an acquisition of up to 300 short-range, manportable air-defence systems (MANPADS).
The pact was signed by Belgium’s Minister of Defense Theo Francken and his Polish counterpart Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, during a visit by Francken to Polish weapons manufacturer MESKO, according to a translated Monday statement from the Belgian Ministry of Defense.
“This agreement focuses on two major areas: strengthening the capabilities of the Air & Space Component and collaboration on portable air defense systems (MANPADS),” it stated.
The Ministry added that “Belgium plans to purchase 200 to 300 Piorun MANPADS, developed entirely in Europe and produced by the Polish defense industry.”
In a visit to Washington, DC, last week, Francken said air defense was “priority number one” for him.
“We are a small country, but we have important institutions,” Francken said at an event put on by the Atlantic Council, name-dropping key facilities for international organizations like NATO. “So we need better defense, also ground-to-air defense systems.”
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MESKO is the prime manufacturer of Piorun, which is built to target fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and uncrewed aerial systems out to a range of eight kilometers (approximately five miles).
Poland has also supplied the weapon to Ukraine, with the Estonian Centre for Defense Investments previously claiming it is “one of the most successful systems” deployed in the conflict.
The plan from Belgium to acquire hundreds of MANPADS comes when Europe is investing heavily in rearmament initiatives and urgent efforts to shore up its defenses in response to Russia’s threat as well as criticism from US President Donald Trump over defense spending.
“In addition to MANPADS, the statement of intent also provides for other forms of cooperation, including strengthening air capabilities through consultations on unmanned systems,” added the Belgian MoD. “In addition, the two countries commit to conducting joint training, including with Polish F-35 pilots, and providing equipment.”
Despite previous concerns in Europe about the reliability of American leadership of the F-35 program — in particular fears of a “kill switch” that the Pentagon had to rebut — Belgium has signalled interest in procuring more of the aircraft. A further 11 jets are set to be acquired, in addition to 34 units already on order, according to an April report from local broadcaster RTL.
In his talk at the Atlantic Council, Francken said Belgium “will buy more F-35” and, once those are delivered, Brussels will donate additional F-16s to Ukraine.
Belgium is also “back on track” to reach NATO’s 2 percent GDP defense spending target this year, Francken said.
