The Belgian government has proposed acquiring 10 NASAMS air defense batteries from the Norwegian defense manufacturer Kongsberg via the Netherlands.
The estimated 2.5-billion-euro ($2.87 billion) defense deal could be the country’s largest since the procurement of 34 F-35s for $6.53 billion in 2018, according to L’Echo.
To be negotiated by the Netherlands, the deal would resemble the joint acquisition of frigates by the two countries.
Under the deal, Belgium will receive 10 NASAMS batteries, each with four launchers.
Jointly developed by Kongsberg and US firm Raytheon, the ground-based system is capable of intercepting short-to-medium-range aerial threats such as aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles.
It includes AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles as interceptors, a Raytheon AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel active 3D radar, and a passive electro-optical and infrared sensor.
Lack of Air Defense
The effort intends to address Brussels’ lack of sufficient air defense systems, forcing the country to rely on F-16s for air defense roles.
The European nation could serve as a key logistics hub in the event of a major war between the West and Russia, making it susceptible to air attacks.
Belgium’s Antwerp port, particularly, is an important node for supplies from the US.
In addition to the NASAMS, or National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, the country requires a long-range system such as the SAMP/T NG (new generation) and the Patriot.
Neighboring Luxembourg is also reportedly examining proposals to acquire the capabilities, including joining the Dutch-Belgian deal.
