Combat aircraft

TANKER

SUPPORT

Lacking its own air-to-air refueling

capability, the Belgian Air Component

has always relied on its allies for long-

distance F-16 deployments. Belgium,

together with Germany and Norway,

therefore signed a declaration of intent

to join the Multi-national MRTT Fleet

(MMF) initiative, initiated by Luxembourg

and the Netherlands on July 28, 2016.

Belgium will invest around €300 million

between 2024 and 2027, allowing the

joint purchase of a pooled fleet of up to

eight A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport

(MRTT) aircraft. The Belgian participation

corresponds with 1,000 MRTT flying

hours per year.

and it still represents a credible threat to

present-day adversaries.

The latest mid-life update tape M6.5

(MLU M6.5) software and hardware

standard is now standard across the

fleet. This adds a Link-16 protocol to

keep the tactical data exchange system

compatible with that of other assets. It

integrated the Rockwell Collins ARC-210

receiver-transmitter with a built-in secure

voice and Have Quick anti-jam system in

order to improve secure communications

in even the harshest electronic warfare

environments. The Sniper XR advanced

targeting pod is receiving a higher-

resolution sensor for improved target

detection and recognition both day and

night, as well as a new two-way data

link (TWDL) allowing the simultaneous

downlink and uplink of encrypted data

between the aircraft and joint terminal

attack controllers (JTACs) on the ground.

The aircraft’s enhanced GPS inertial

navigation (EGI) platform is being

updated to improve its positioning

capability, in order to reduce the risk of

civil casualties and collateral damage

when using precision munitions.

The AN/ALR-56M enhanced radar

warning receiver (RWR) of the M6.5

package is not installed on Belgian F-16s,

as they are equipped with the Dassault

Électronique Carapace integrated self-

protection suite. This system is presently

undergoing a maintenance and upgrade

program to enable it to cope with all

current threats.

AIM-9X Block II is replacing the AIM-9M,

and the tape provides compatibility

with the AIM-120D version of the

radar-guided Advanced Medium Range

Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Belgium has

no current requirement for the AIM-120D

as it says the AIM-120B fulfils all of the

country’s current operational needs.

However, a technical study is in progress

to determine whether upgrading or

replacing the missile is sensible.

In addition, the 250lb GBU-39 Small

Diameter Bomb (SDB) is coming under

MLU Tape M6.1. The BRU-61/A weapons

pylons to accommodate four SDBs were

in the process of delivery in 2017, with

the weapons following in 2018.

Tough act to follow

With a design service life of 8,000 hours,

the fleet-leading Belgian F-16s are

approaching 6,000 flying hours. Thus

the Belgian Air Component expects to

continue flying its ‘Vipers’ until around

2025, and possibly as long as 2029.

The formal replacement process was

initiated on June 2, 2014 with a request

for information sent to France, Sweden,

the UK and the US describing the general

framework of the program and providing

an insight in the envisioned operational

capabilities. Shortlisted types were the

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault

Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed

Martin F-35A Lightning II and Saab

Gripen E. Both Boeing and Saab pulled

out of the running for the 34-aircraft

deal during 2017. That October, Belgium

said that Dassault’s response failed to

meet the required criteria, leaving it

looking like a two-horse race between

the Typhoon and the F-35. A decision is

expected in the middle of 2018.

The current level of ambition for the

Belgian fighter capability is to guarantee

QRA and air policing on a ‘24/7’ basis

with two aircraft (on a rotational basis

with the Netherlands) and to execute

expeditionary operations for a sustained

period of undetermined duration with a

maximum of six aircraft. When training

requirements and attrition over 50 years

are factored in, it leads to the plan for

34 aircraft.

A memorandum of understanding or

a purchase agreement could be signed

during the second quarter of 2018 and

first deliveries are expected early in 2023,

with initial operational capability (IOC) by

mid-2027 and full operational capability

(FOC) on January 1, 2029.

The author wishes to thank the military assistant

to the Belgian Air Component commander and the

officer commanding the Operational Conversion

Unit Squadron for their assistance in the

preparation of this feature.

Top: Belgian F-16s

have to date

relied on refueling

support from

allies, such as

this US Air Force

KC-10A Extender.

However, Belgium

has now joined

the European

tanker initiative

and will have

its own pool of

Airbus A330

MRTTs to call on.

Belgian Defence/

Chewy

Right: Many of the

‘Desert Falcon’

missions are

flown at night —

illustrated here as

a pilot crews-into

a live-armed

‘Viper’.

Belgian Defence/

Christian Decloedt

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