Belgium to acquire 10 NASAMS air defense systems in joint deal with Netherlands

Brussels/Ankara — Belgium has signed a cooperation agreement with the Netherlands at the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, to acquire 10 NASAMS air defense systems, marking the country's most significant rebuild of national air defenses since the end of the Cold War.

Key Details of the Acquisition

Belgium's Defence Minister Theo Francken confirmed that the purchase restores air defense capability the country has lacked for two decades.

"After twenty years without one, Belgium will rebuild its own powerful air defense capability with this joint purchase," Francken said. "This step is essential for the protection of our population and critical infrastructure."

The agreement, announced in a press release from manufacturer Kongsberg, will bring 10 NASAMS batteries into Belgian service as the centerpiece of a broader air defense modernization effort.

What Is NASAMS?

NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is a mobile, medium-range air defense system originally developed by Norway's Kongsberg alongside American defense firm Raytheon. The system features:

• A distributed network of launchers, radars, and fire-control stations
• Components that can operate across different locations while linked through digital command connections
• AMRAAM missiles — the same air-to-air missile family used by F-16 and F-35 fighter jets
• A proven interceptor already in wide use across NATO

NASAMS engages targets at ranges of approximately 25 to 40 km (16 to 25 miles), covering the medium-range layer of air defense. It is capable of intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, and larger drones, but cannot substitute for longer-range platforms designed to counter ballistic missiles or high-altitude threats.

Broader Defense Package

According to Breaking Defense, the NASAMS purchase is part of a considerably larger air defense package. Belgium and the Netherlands signed a cooperation agreement covering:

• 10 NASAMS batteries
• 20 Rheinmetall-made Skyranger 30 short-range air defense systems
• 14 Thales-supplied Ground Master 200 mobile radars
• 54 Iveco-manufactured command and support vehicles

The combined procurement package is valued at more than €3.1 billion ($3.5 billion), making it one of the largest single defense acquisitions in recent Belgian history.

The package reflects a deliberately layered approach to air defense:

• GM200 radars provide wide-area surveillance and target tracking
• NASAMS batteries handle medium-range interception against aircraft and cruise missiles
• Skyranger systems counter small, low-flying drones — an increasingly common threat across Europe

Joint Procurement Strategy

Belgium's decision to build this system jointly with the Netherlands reflects a broader pattern reshaping European defense procurement since Russia's invasion of Ukraine exposed how thin and fragmented the continent's air defenses had become after decades of post-Cold War budget cuts.

The Netherlands already operates NASAMS under its own existing contract with Kongsberg. Belgium's participation piggybacks onto that established Dutch framework agreement. Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz said this structure was designed specifically to avoid duplicating training programs, software systems, and maintenance infrastructure between the two neighboring militaries.

Yeşilgöz noted that pooling procurement efforts across allied countries allows defense industries to scale up production more rapidly while avoiding fragmented, incompatible systems that have historically made coordinated European air defense more difficult.

Future Plans

According to Army Recognition, Belgium plans to procure three additional long-range air defense batteries beginning in 2029 to complete a full layered system. France and Italy's SAMP/T NG system (using Aster missiles) is competing against the American Patriot system as Belgium's likely eventual choice for the top tier of protection against longer-range ballistic and high-value aerial threats.

This decision carries strategic weight beyond technical specifications:

• Choosing SAMP/T would deepen Belgium's defense integration with France and Italy
• Selecting Patriot would align more closely with the Netherlands, which has operated the American system since the 1980s and recently expanded its own Patriot fleet