Belgium to invest more than €200 million in independent military satellite system

Belgium’s Defence Ministry plans to invest more than €200 million in its first independent military satellite system, Defence Minister Theo Francken said.

The project will involve the development of a constellation of “several dozen” satellites aimed at reducing Belgium’s reliance on other countries for military satellite imagery, Caliber.Az reports via Belgian media.

Belgium’s Air Force already operates a Space Security Centre coordinating military space activities, but the country currently relies on French satellites for imagery.

“We can request images from the system for a few minutes each day,” Francken said. The new constellation is intended to provide Belgium with continuous access to satellite imagery.

Belgian companies, including Walloon satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab, will be eligible to participate in the procurement process, according to Francken.

Belgium is expected to rely on foreign launch providers, including SpaceX, as it does not have its own launch site.

The country’s military intelligence service, ADIV, will also participate in the project. The collected data is expected to be shared beyond Belgium, and the system is planned to become fully operational by 2030.

By Sabina Mammadli