Belgium has formally approved the acquisition of five additional Airbus H145M helicopters, expanding the future joint fleet of Defence and Federal Police to 20 aircraft. The Council of Ministers cleared the purchase during its latest meeting, reaffirming Belgium’s long-term commitment to strengthening national aviation assets under the same investment framework used for previous H145M orders. The announcement was jointly delivered by Defence Minister Theo Francken and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin, shortly after the first Belgian H145M completed its initial test flight in Germany two weeks earlier.
According to the government, the new package includes three helicopters earmarked for Defence and two for the Federal Police, with the police already submitting the required deposit. Both ministries emphasised that the expanded fleet will enhance internal security operations, crisis-response capability, and Belgium’s ability to deploy aviation resources with minimal delay during emergencies or major national incidents.
These five aircraft will supplement the earlier order of 15 H145M helicopters, forming a unified fleet of 20 mission-ready platforms. In severe crisis scenarios, all twenty helicopters can be mobilised to support nationwide security tasks, disaster response, and rapid-deployment requirements. Defence will continue to oversee maintenance, airworthiness, and overall fleet financing, ensuring a single integrated management structure and standardised operational readiness across all aircraft.
The acquisition further aligns Belgium with partner nations also fielding the H145M, strengthening interoperability and operational synergy within Europe. Officials indicated that the modernised fleet will significantly enhance Belgium’s aerial mobility, surveillance, and support operations over the coming decade.
