TSAMTO, November 23. According to the resource Defencebelgium.com, an A-400M (CT-05) aircraft arrived at the Melsbrek Air Force Base, where the 15th Transport Wing of the Belgian Air Force is located. It became the fourth car delivered to the Belgian Air Force and the fifth as part of a joint unit of the Belgian and Luxembourg Armed Forces.
It is expected that the sixth A-400M (CT-06) will arrive in Belgium next month, and the delivery of all A-400M should be completed in January 2024. The new planes will replace the outdated C-130 Hercules, the last three of which will be decommissioned in December.
As reported by CAMTO, Belgium, among the seven countries included in the organization for cooperation in the field of arms procurement (OCCAR – Organization conjointe de cooptration en matittre d'armement), signed an agreement in December 2001 for the development and supply of 7 A-400M aircraft. They are intended to replace the C-130H Hercules in service since the early 1970s, which are scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of 2021. The project for the purchase and subsequent operation of the A400M by the Belgian Armed Forces is carried out jointly with the Luxembourg Armed Forces, which have purchased one aircraft and will provide three crews.
As planned, all A-400M will be delivered to the Belgian and Luxembourg Air Forces in the period 2020-2024. They will be part of the 20th Squadron of the 15th Transport Wing of the Belgian Air Force, stationed at the Melsbrek Air Base. The full readiness of the unit for combat use is scheduled for the end of 2024.
The Luxembourg Air Force received its aircraft (CT-01) on October 7, 2020, and the first A-400M of the Belgian Air Force was delivered on December 22, 2020.
As planned, the acquired A-400M will also be provided to the European Air Transport Command (European Air Transport Command), and through it to the European Rapid Reaction Forces.
