Belgium: special forces aircraft planned, Falcon 20s retired

[Stratofreighter]

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Belgium eyes new air capability for its Special Forces

27-12-2016

Between 2025-27, the Defense ministry considers creating a new squadron of special mission aircraft and adding new capabilities to its fleet of NH90 Multirole Transport Helicopters.

”Another aspect of our SOF capability reinforcement is the desire to create a SOF Specialized Aviation unit, based on four small Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft able to operate from short and unprepared tracks and which, thanks to their relatively high operational range and their discretion, will be adapted to SOF insertion, extraction and supplying missions”, said the Belgian Defense Ministry in its plan.


These four aircraft could also be equipped to carry out medical evacuations and to provide ISR and Close Air Support capabilities for the Special Forces. Platforms such as the Swiss-made Pilatus PC-6 aircraft would be considered by 2025.

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http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/922/Nieuws/art ... ioen.dhtml

22/12/16 - 19u35

The Belgian army has the last 20 Dassault Mystère sent into retirement. The small device with eight pitches flew 43 years around with members of the royal family, ministers and other leaders of the army and the government.


Defence had two aircraft in the fleet, who underwent last full modernization in 2004. The first - CM-01 - was retired early last year, when an expensive major repairs became necessary.

Now, the CM-02 performed its last flight. The device thus beats down on 16,210 flight hours.