Belgium is gradually rearming. Contrary to what happened under the legislature led by the liberal Alexander De Croo, the next government should arm the new American drones acquired by Defense. The war in Ukraine and the threat that Vladimir Putin’s Russia poses to Europe explain this turnaround.
The De Croo government (in current affairs) had put drone weaponry on the shelf. In this coalition, the left-wing parties – socialists and ecologists – opposed the will of the Flemish liberals: they did not want it. They had ethical reservations and raised the risk that these weapons represent of causing collateral victims. They were concerned about lowering the threshold for the use of force. The dehumanization of war was singled out.
The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army in February 2022 completely changed the situation, and the future government coalition that Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever is currently seeking to form takes the arming of Defense drones for granted. .
A law to equip drones with missiles
Bart De Wever’s Flemish nationalist N-VA, which has always been pro-Atlantic, has just tabled legislation to equip American Defense MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones with missiles. The proposal is co-signed by Les Engagés, the French-speaking centrist party for whom “it is more than urgent that the political decision to arm drones is adopted”. The liberals of the Reform Movement unsurprisingly support him, judging that the Belgian army must have “the equipment of the 21st century”.
More surprisingly, the Flemish socialists are of the same opinion. Vooruit seems ready to put aside his antimilitarist heritage in the name of pragmatism, here as in other issues. “Our Defense would be greatly weakened if we did not accept this new trend and this new type of war. The geopolitical climate and technology are evolving. Our Defense must be able to keep pace, also in the interest of the safety of our troops on the ground,” explained socialist Axel Weydts. “Drones are not only used in an offensive context, but also for the protection of troops.”
Amendments to the future law have been tabled. They particularly emphasize the importance of maintaining human control over drones at a time when artificial intelligence poses so many questions. Hence the insistence of some to recall the foundations of international humanitarian law.
The arming of drones, one of the rare agreements displayed by the future government
The emphasis on this quasi-compromise is interpreted by some observers as symptomatic of the current period. Although it still remains to be confirmed, the arming of drones is considered to be one of the rare issues on which the partners of the future government coalition (“Arizona”) are truly in agreement. Bart De Wever, let us remember, has until January 31 to present to the king and the country the future government he intends to lead.
In 2018, Belgium decided to acquire four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones. They are built by the American company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc, based in San Diego, California.
For the occasion, the Belgian air force discreetly recreated one of its oldest squadrons, the 2nd, dissolved in 2001 for reasons of savings.
The 2nd squadron was created in September 1913. It participated actively in the Great War. It obtained 22 victories, including seven from Edmond Thieffry, one of the “aces” of Belgian military aviation, who went down in history for having contributed to opening the air route to the Congo and Africa.
Belgian pilots train to fly the F-35
In a related context, the arrival of 34 F-35 fighter-bombers from the American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin ordered by Belgium is being followed step by step. This acquisition was described as the “deal of the century” when the Michel government (2014-2018) signed a purchase order for some 4 billion euros. The F-35s are to replace the aging F-16s. Between two and four of these Cold War-era aircraft will eventually be aligned on the Ukrainian front.
Here too, Bart De Wever’s N-VA had adopted a pro-American position and had done everything to ensure that European competition was ruled out. Criticisms about the reliability of the F-35 changed nothing.
Last December, a Belgian pilot was finally able to take control of an F-35. “We find certain landmarks at takeoff and landing in particular, and so we are not totally lost, but the comparison stops there!” he commented to the press. Tactical use is totally different. Technological developments are enormous. It is a stealth aircraft that cannot be detected by radar unlike the F-16. This makes it easier to approach targets at a certain distance to locate them, identify them and possibly use weapons.”
This pilot flies from Luke AFB in Arizona with Americans, Norwegians, Danes, Italians, Dutch and Singaporeans. In a few days, four Belgian pilots should fly the F-35. The first American fighter-bombers are expected at the Florennes base, in Namur, next summer. They will notably ensure the protection of the skies of the Benelux, and therefore of Luxembourg.
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