Belgium rebuilds air defences

Belgium has restored Mistral very-short-range air defense, with its Artillery Battalion's first platoon fully operational since the second quarter of 2026. The unit participated in France's Aegis exercise in Provence in October, operating within the 54th Artillery Regiment under common training and command procedures. A second Belgian Mistral platoon is expected to reach initial operational capability by the end of 2026, rebuilding a capability withdrawn in late 2017. Further layers include NASAMS, contracted in September, and planned Serval armored vehicles in accompanying air-defense, counter-drone and radar variants, extending protection beyond the current manportable missile element.