Worrying information was revealed by our colleagues from Het Laatste Nieuws: in the event of a conflict, the Belgian army would not have any vehicle equipped with a cannon to protect its troops. Most are under repair because the gun, too heavy, damages the vehicle.
According to an investigation by Het Laatste Nieuws, the Belgian army is currently in a somewhat worrying situation: if a conflict were to break out, it would not have any armored vehicles equipped with a cannon. The 127 Piranha, the heaviest vehicles in the army, are almost all at a standstill for technical reasons.
The Piranha, ordered in 2008 by former Defense Minister André Flahaut (PS), presents problems linked to the weight of the 90 millimeter cannons installed there. This caliber, unusual for NATO, had already raised concerns within Defense at the time. Despite the warnings and the refusal of the Finance Inspectorate, André Flahaut ignored it and ordered these vehicles. The fears were well-founded, an investigation carried out by De Morgen revealed that the cannon was indeed too heavy and caused damage to the vehicle.
A two-year “gap”
Defense assures that the Piranhas are repairable and that they will be returned to service, but no date has been communicated. In the meantime, the Belgian army finds itself without vehicles equipped with cannons, which limits its ability to protect its troops and intervene in difficult terrain. Replacement Piranhas have been ordered, but the new vehicles will not be delivered until the end of 2026.
Theo Francken (N-VA) questioned Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder (PS) about this situation, which he considers detrimental to Belgium’s credibility within NATO. He also denounces the lack of investment in Defense and the problems encountered with equipment purchased under socialist mandates. Minister Dedonder, for her part, assures that this situation has no impact on the availability of the army.
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