Editing Belgian Armed Forces (section)

==Structure==
{{Main|Structure of the Belgian Armed Forces}}

Since 2002, the three independent armed forces have been merged into one unified structure and organized with four components. They are structured as follows:
* [[Belgian Land Component|Land Component]], previously known as the [[Army|Land Force]] (''Force Terrestre / Landmacht / Heer'');
* [[Belgian Air Component|Air Component]], previously known as the [[Air Force]] (''Force Aérienne / Luchtmacht / Luftmacht'');
* [[Belgian Naval Component|Naval Component]], previously known as the [[Navy|Naval Force]] (''Force Navale / Zeemacht / Seemacht''),
* [[Belgian Medical Component|Medical Component]], previously known as the [[Military medicine|Medical Service]] (''Service Médicale / Medische dienst / Sanitätsdienst'').
* Cyber Command<ref>{{Cite web |title=LA DÉFENSE Votre futur. Notre mission. |url=https://www.mil.be/fr/cyber/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=La Défense |language=fr}}</ref>

The operational commands of the components (COMOPSLAND, COMOPSAIR, COMOPSMAR and COMOPSMED) are directly subordinate to the Chief of Defence (CHOD).

Special Operations Command or SOCOM, does not have direct command over special operations, but is an intermediary center for coordination and communication of special operations between the components. The command provides advice and expertise and is also tasked with acquisition and distributions of equipment for SOF units. SOCOM is managed by ACOS Operations and Training.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-23|title=De hoge ambities van het Special Operations Command|url=https://magazines.mil.be/socom/|access-date=2020-12-25|website=magazines.mil.be|language=nl-NL}}</ref>

Currently, SOCOM is responsible for setting up the new Composite Special Operations Command Center or C-SOCC. This new command center is an international project between Special Operations units of Belgium, The Netherlands and Denmark.<ref>{{Cite web|last=NATO|title=Three Allies establish Special Forces Command|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_155347.htm|access-date=2020-12-26|website=NATO|language=fr}}</ref>

The Belgian Land, Air, and Medical Components all use the [[Belgian military ranks|same military ranks]]. The Naval Component's ranks are unique in the Belgian Armed Forces.

=== Belgian Military Bases ===
<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verhoeven |first=Erwin |date=March 19, 2025 |title=IN KAART. De kazernes van het Belgisch leger: waar liggen ze, en wat gebeurt er? |url=https://www.hln.be/binnenland/in-kaart-de-kazernes-van-het-belgisch-leger-waar-liggen-ze-en-wat-gebeurt-er~aa197cc0/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=HLN}}</ref>
==== Flanders ====

===== Army Bases =====
* '''Brasschaat''' – Bataljon Artillerie (Artillery Battalion) – 450 soldiers
* '''Burcht''' – 11e Bataljon Genie (Engineering Battalion) – 580 soldiers
* '''Gavere''' – 17e Compagnie van het 3e Bataljon Parachutisten (Paratrooper Company) – 120 soldiers
* '''Grobbendonk''' – 29ste Bataljon Logistiek (Logistics Battalion) – 500 soldiers
* '''Leopoldsburg''' – Hoofdkwartier Gemotoriseerde Brigade (Mechanized Brigade HQ) – ~2,000 soldiers
* '''Lombardsijde''' – Artillerie- en Infanteriebasis (Artillery and Infantry Base) – 430 soldiers, expanding to 1,200
* '''Tielen''' – [[3rd Paratroopers Battalion (Belgium)|3rd Paratroopers Battalion]] – ~500 soldiers<ref>[https://www.rtv.be/defensie-wil-paras-verhuizen-van-tielen-naar-gavere Defensie wil para’s verhuizen van Tielen naar Gavere] – RTV, 22 September 2020.</ref>

===== Air Force Bases =====
* '''Kleine-Brogel''' – 10e Tactische Wing (Tactical Wing) – 1,300 soldiers
* '''Koksijde''' – 40ste Smaldeel (Helicopter Unit) – 250 soldiers
* '''Melsbroek''' – 15e Air Transport Wing – ~1,000 soldiers

===== Navy Bases =====
* '''Zeebrugge''' – Marinebasis (Main Naval Base) – 1,000-1,500 soldiers
* '''Oostende''' – Mijnenbestrijdingsschool EGUERMIN (Mine Warfare School, future Navy Academy) – 100, expanding to 500

===== Special Facilities =====
* '''Evere''' – Hoofdkwartier Defensie (Defense HQ) – Up to 4,000 personnel
* '''Peutie''' – Special Operations Regiment & Logistic Base – 1,170 soldiers
* '''Meerdaal''' – Hoofdkwartier DOVO (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) – 200 personnel
* '''Poelkapelle''' – DOVO-kazerne (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Base) – 120 soldiers
* '''Schaffen''' – Paratrooper Training Center – 190 soldiers
* '''Sint-Truiden (Saffraanberg)''' – Koninklijke School voor Onderofficieren (Royal Non-Commissioned Officer School) – Up to 1,500 students
* '''Koninklijke Militaire School (Brussels)''' – Officer Training School – Several hundred students
* '''Neder-over-Heembeek''' – Militair Hospitaal (Military Hospital) – 700 personnel

==== Wallonia ====

===== Army Bases =====
* '''Amay''' – 4e Bataljon Genie (Engineering Battalion) – 600 soldiers
* '''Bertrix''' – 260ste Compagnie Munitie (Munitions Storage) – Limited personnel
* '''Doornik''' – Belgian Defense Logistic School – 240 soldiers
* '''Elsenborn''' – Trainingskamp voor zware wapens (Heavy Weapons Training Camp) – 150 soldiers
* '''Flawinne''' – 2e Bataljon Commando’s (Commando Battalion) – 650 soldiers
* '''Marche-en-Famenne''' – Regiment Ardense Jagers, 1/3 Lansiers en 4e Logistiek Bataljon – 2,050 soldiers

===== Air Force Bases =====
* '''Bevekom (Beauvechain)''' – 1ste Wing (Helicopter and Training Base) – 1,300 soldiers
* '''Florennes''' – 2e Tactische Wing (Tactical Wing with F-16s and Drones) – 1,125 soldiers

===Land Component===
{{main|Belgian Land Component}}
[[File:BELGICANA GRENADIERS 43.JPG|thumb|Belgian grenadiers at a memorial service]]

The [[Belgian Land Component]] is the ground arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. The Land Component Commander is Major-General Pierre Gérard.(since 18 October 2019). The Land Component consists of one staff (COMOPSLAND), one motorized brigade, one special operations regiment supported by an artillery battalion, two engineer battalions and a reconnaissance (ISTAR) battalion. It is also supported by three logistical units, three telecommunication units, four training camps and a center for the training of ground troops.

The land component has around 10,000 troops (as of 2023) and trained for foreign operations in a multinational environment. 
Around 7500 of them are part of the [[Motorized Brigade (Belgium)]] and ~1500 part of [[Special Operations Regiment (Belgium)]] and around ~1000 are part of other branches such as military police, Explosive Removal and Destruction Service (DOVO) and more.

===Air Component===
{{main|Belgian Air Component}}
[[File:F-16 MLU of Belgian Air Force's Solo Display Team (reg. FA-133), taxiing, Radom AirShow 2005, Poland.jpg|thumb|An [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] jet of the Belgian Air Component]]

The [[Belgian Air Component]] is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces.
The history of the Belgian Air Force began in 1910 when the Minister of War, General Hellebout, decided after his first flight to acquire aeroplanes. On 5 May 1911 a Farman type 1910 was delivered, followed by a second on 24 May and two other in August of the same year. The air component commander is Major-General aviator Thierry Dupont. (04/07/2023)
The air component consists of two fighter aircraft wing, the second tactical wing in [[Florennes]], operating the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 Fighting Falcon]] and a unit (80 UAV squadron) flying the B-Hunter reconnaissance UAV, the 10 tactical wing in [[Kleine Brogel]], operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the 15 air transport wing in [[Melsbroek]] operating 10 [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] transport aircraft and 2 out of 8 [[Airbus A400M Atlas]] modern transport aircraft which will replace the C-130s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ac.nato.int/archive/2020/belgian-air-force-welcomes-first-a400m-modern-transport-aircraft |title=Belgian Air Force welcomes first A400M modern transport aircraft |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=23 December 2020 |website=ac.nato.int |publisher=NATO Allied Air Command |access-date=23 December 2020 }}</ref> Two of the new A400Ms are currently operable (CT-01, shared with the Luxembourg Air Force and CT-02),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ac.nato.int/archive/2020/BEL_LUX_BNU_A400M |title=Belgian-Luxembourg unit to operate both allies' A400M missions |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 October 2020 |website=ac.nato.int |publisher= NATO Allied Air Command |access-date=23 December 2020 }}</ref> four more are scheduled to arrive in 2021. The 15th Wing also operates a small fleet of troop transport and VIP aircraft. The first wing in [[Beauvechain]] operates training aircraft and helicopters (A-109 and NH-90 helicopters). Aside from these flying units, the air component is supported by several support units, such as an air traffic control center, an air defense center (Control and Reporting Center), a meteorological wing and an aviation safety directorate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mil.be/nl/luchtcomponent|language=nl|date=2018-09-23|title=Luchtcomponent}}</ref>

===Naval Component===
[[File:F930 leopold Zeebrugge.jpg|thumb|[[Belgian frigate Leopold I (F930)|Leopold I]], a frigate of the Belgian Navy]]
The [[Belgian Navy|Belgian Naval Component]] is the naval arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. It currently has 1,200 personnel and 10 vessels. The Naval Component Commander is Rear Admiral Jan De Beurme, since 28 September 2020. Current vessels are:

'''Frigates''':

* [[Belgian frigate Leopold I (F930)|BNS F930 Leopold I]]
* [[Belgian frigate Louise-Marie (F931)|BNS F931 Louise-Marie]]

'''Minesweepers''':

* [[Belgian minehunter Bellis (M916)|BNS M916 Bellis]]
* [[Belgian minehunter Crocus (M917)|BNS M917 Crocus]]
* [[Belgian minehunter Lobelia (M921)|BNS M921 Lobelia]]
* [[Belgian minehunter Narcis (M923)|BNS M923 Narcis]]
* [[Belgian minehunter Primula (M924)|BNS M924 Primula]]

'''Patrol Boats''':

* [[Belgian patrol vessel Castor (P901)|BNS P901 Castor]] 
* [[Belgian patrol vessel Pollux (P902)|BNS P902 Pollux]]

'''Auxiliary Vessels''':

* [[BNS A958 Zenobe Gramme]] (training ship)

===Medical Component===
{{main|Belgian Medical Component}}

The Medical Component is commanded by a [[Major General]] and is composed of 1,700 active personnel. Providing medical support to all personnel of the Belgium Armed forces, it consists of a Military Hospital and 2 Medical Battalions as well as a Medical Supply Unit.

=== Intelligence ===
A Belgian military intelligence service was founded on 1 April 1915. The [[Belgian General Information and Security Service]], known as ADIV (Dutch) or SGRS (French) and part of the organisational chart of Belgian Defence as ACOS-IS (Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence and Security) provides security intelligence for the Armed Forces as well as strategic intelligence for the Belgian government. Its focus is on counterespionage.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lasoen|first1=Kenneth|title=For Belgian Eyes Only. Intelligence Cooperation in Belgium|journal=International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence|date=2017|volume=40|issue=3|page=464|doi=10.1080/08850607.2017.1297110|url=https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8512001|hdl=1854/LU-8512001|s2cid=157376383|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

The [[Jagers te Paard Battalion]] ([[ISTAR]]) also conducts military intelligence with a tactical goal of preparing and supporting operations abroad.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Standing Review Committee of the Intelligence Services|first1=Committee I|title=Activiteitenverslag 2013 - Report d'activités 2013|date=2014|publisher=Intersentia|location=Antwerp|page=13|url=http://www.comiteri.be/images/pdf/Jaarverslagen/Activiteitenverslag_2013.pdf}}</ref>