Structure_of_the_Belgian_Armed_Forces

Structure of the Belgian Armed Forces

Structure of the Belgian Armed Forces

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This article represents the structure of the Belgian Armed Forces as of May 2020:

Chief of Defence

The Belgian Armed Forces are headed by the Chief of Defence with the rank of General, who is assisted by a Vice-Chief of Staff and three Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) with the rank of Lieutenant General. Six general directorates headed by Major Generals manage the bureaucratic aspects of the Belgian Armed Forces.[1]

  • Chief of Defence
    • Vice-Chief of Defence
      • Policy & Governance Support Cluster (Gv Spt)
      • Staff Department Strategy (ACOS Strat)
    • Staff Department Operations and Training (ACOS Ops & Trg)
    • Staff Department Intelligence and Security (ACOS IS)
    • Defense Inspector General
    • General Directorate Health & Well-being (DG H&WB)
    • General Directorate Legal Support (DG Jur)
    • General Directorate Strategic Communication (DG StratCom)
    • General Directorate Budget and Finances (DG BF)
    • General Directorate Material Resources (DG MR)
    • General Directorate Human Resources (DG HR)
    • Land Component
    • Air Component
    • Maritime Component
    • Medical Component

Land Component

The Land Component (French: Composante Terre Dutch: Landcomponent) is commanded by a Major general and has the following organization:

Motorized Brigade

The Motorized Brigade (French: Brigade Motorisée Dutch: Gemotoriseerde Brigade) is the Belgian land formation assigned to NATO[12]

Special Operations Regiment

The Special Operations Regiment combines the Belgian paratroopers, special operations and special forces units. All units of the regiment are airborne qualified.[20]

Air Component

The Air Component (Dutch: Luchtcomponent French: Composante Air) is commanded by a Major general and has the following organization:[21]

1st Wing

The 1st Wing operates all helicopters, with the exception of the NH90 NFH helicopters supporting the Maritime Component.

2nd Tactical Wing

The 2nd Tactical Wing is one of two Air Component fighter wings and operates F-16AM Falcon fighters, which will be replaced by F-35A Lightning II from 2023.[28]

10th Tactical Wing

The 10th Tactical Wing is one of two Air Component fighter wings and operates F-16AM/BM Falcon fighters, which will be replaced by F-35A Lightning II from 2023.[29] As part of NATO's nuclear sharing the US Air Force's 701st Munitions Support Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing stores B61 tactical nuclear weapons at Kleine Brogel for use with Belgian F-16AM Falcon.

15th Air Transport Wing

15th Air Transport Wing operates the tactical and strategic airlift aircraft of the Belgian Armed Forces. Additionally it provides VIP transport services to the Belgian government.

Meteo Wing

The Meteo Wing provides meteorological services to the Belgian Armed Forces and operates 10 remotely operated weather stations across Belgium.[31]

  • Meteo Wing, at Beauvechain Air Base
    • Military Meteorological Forecasting Centre
    • Meteorological School
    • Maintenance Workshop
    • Meteorological Telecommunications Unit

The Naval Component (Dutch: Marinecomponent French: Composante marine) is commanded by a Divisional admiral.[32] The Maritime Component's ships fall operationally under the joint Belgian-Dutch Maritime Headquarters Benelux in Den Helder, which is commanded by the Dutch Admiral Benelux. The commander of the Belgian Naval Component doubles as Deputy Admiral Benelux.[33]

Maritime Headquarters Benelux

Medical Component

The Medical Component (French: Composante Médicale Dutch: Medische Component) is commanded by a Major General and has the following organization:

Armed Forces structure graphic

Structure of the Belgian Armed Forces in 2020 (click to enlarge)

Geographic distribution of operational units

Belgian Armed Forces locations 2020

Land Component: Reconnaissance Infantry Commandos/ Paratroopers Special Forces Artillery Engineers CIS Logistics Military Police

Air Component: Fighter bases Helicopter bases Other units

Medical Component: Medical units

References

  1. [1]
    "La nouvelle organisation de l'état-major général de la défense" (PDF). Direction Générale de la Communication Stratégique. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  2. [2]
    "De Landcomponent". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Competentiecentrum Landcomponent". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  4. [4]
    "Military Police Group". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  5. [5]
    "Dienst voor Opruiming en Vernietiging van Ontploffingstuigen". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "Movement Control Group". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  7. [7]
    "Civil-Military Engagement Group". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "29 Bataljon Logistiek". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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  10. [10]
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  11. [11]
    "Kamp Lagland". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "Hoofdkwartier Gemotoriseerde Brigade". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  13. [13]
    "La Brigade Médiane devient la Brigade Motorisée". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
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    "Bataljon Jagers te Paard". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  15. [15]
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    "Luchtcomponent". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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  27. [27]
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  29. [29]
    "10 Tactische Wing". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  30. [30]
    "ANALYSIS: Airbus gearing up for A400M export push". 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  31. [31]
    "Meteo Wing". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  32. [32]
    "Marine". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  33. [33]
    "Admiral Benelux". Netherlands Royal Navy. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  34. [34]
    "F930 Leopold I". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "F931 Louise-Marie". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "M916 Bellis". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "M917 Crocus". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "M921 Lobelia". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "M923 Narcis". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "M924 Primula". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "P901 Castor". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "P902 Pollux". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "A960 Godetia". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "A962 Belgica". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "A958 Zenobe Gramme". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "Competentiecentrum Medische Component". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "Militair Hospitaal Koningin Astrid". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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    "Nieuw Bataljon bij de Medische Component". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  49. [49]
    "Nieuw Bataljon bij de Medische Component". Belgian Armed Forces. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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