Exclusive: Belgium may arm new MQ-9B Skyguardian drones with Brimstone missiles
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Belgium’s Air Component and Defence Minister confirmed work is underway to prepare technical and procedural steps that would allow MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones to carry the same precision munitions used by Belgian F-16s and planned for F-35s; Brimstone is explicitly named as a candidate.
On September 25, 2025, at Florennes Air Base, Belgian Air Force Commander Major General Geert De Decker confirmed that Belgium is examining the possibility of arming its MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, stating that the Air Force is “looking into” the integration of precision weapons and pointing directly to Brimstone as one of the missiles under consideration. He explained that the goal is to prepare the technical and operational groundwork so that, if parliament authorises it, the drones could eventually be equipped with the same types of precision-guided munitions already in use on Belgian F-16s and planned for the future F-35A fleet.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Belgian officials say the newly arrived MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones could one day carry Brimstone precision missiles, a weapon already in service with the UK Royal Air Force, if parliament authorizes armed use. (Picture source: MBDA)
Defence Minister Theo Francken, standing alongside De Decker, gave a detailed outline of how the government views the MQ-9B SkyGuardian programme and the potential step toward an armed configuration. He confirmed that Belgium has ordered four MQ-9B aircraft with contractual options for additional systems, and that the fleet is being acquired to perform long endurance missions in international theatres where Belgian forces are already active. He stated that the aircraft will remain under political control at every stage of their employment and that any use of weapons would only take place within strict national rules of engagement and with explicit parliamentary approval.
Francken explained that implementation of an armed capability would be phased, beginning with the certification of the airframes, the technical integration and testing of weapons, and the complete training of operators before deployment could occur. He added that command-and-control frameworks will need to be established to guarantee oversight and operational clarity once certification and training are complete. He also situated the MQ-9B within Belgium’s wider force structure by noting that its long endurance and persistence are seen as complementary to the speed and strike capacity of the current F-16 fleet and the future F-35A aircraft, while reiterating that the government treats armament as a possible future option that requires preparation, validation, and political decision-making rather than as a change already in effect.
Belgium’s discussion about arming remotely piloted medium altitude long endurance aircraft has evolved from an ethical and doctrinal debate into a set of concrete legal, technical, and parliamentary considerations. Political debate has been ongoing for several years and included high-level scrutiny in committees and at the party level, with a resolution tabled on 1 October 2024 that pushed the issue into formal parliamentary channels and accelerated work on rules of engagement and certification procedures. Critics and supporters have reframed their positions around implementable safeguards rather than abstract principles, producing a focus on national authorisation chains, target approval procedures, and oversight mechanisms needed to permit armed employment if the government so decides. That parliamentary and ministerial attention has been a decisive factor in moving the discussion from principle to practicable steps without presuming an immediate operational change.
Belgium’s acquisition of the MQ-9 system developed over several years through formal procurement processes and parliamentary approval before the first deliveries were made. The Ministry of Defence signed a contract for four MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft, with options included for expanding the fleet to six systems if required. The first airframe was delivered to Florennes Air Base in August 2025 and carried out its first flight in Belgian airspace on 23 September of the same year. To prepare crews, Belgian personnel began training in the United States, where the aircraft’s main manufacturer operates training facilities for partner nations. Additional phases of tactical and operational training are planned with the United Kingdom, which is also acquiring the MQ-9B under the RAF Protector programme and has already obtained a Military Type Certificate for the platform from the UK Military Aviation Authority. This cooperation provides Belgium with access to experience in certification procedures, sustainment practices, and integration pathways, particularly regarding potential future weapons, while Florennes has been equipped with ground control stations and maintenance facilities to support both training and eventual operational use.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft designed for persistent surveillance and potential precision strike roles depending on national authorisation. The platform has a wingspan of approximately 24 metres and a maximum take-off weight of around 5,670 kilograms, with nine external hardpoints that can carry a variety of payloads, including sensors or, after approval and integration, precision-guided munitions. The aircraft is capable of remaining airborne for more than 40 hours, operating at altitudes above 12,000 metres, and is fitted with systems such as detect-and-avoid technology, satellite-based beyond-line-of-sight communications, and de-icing equipment that enable integration into controlled airspace and operation in varied weather conditions. These characteristics allow for persistent surveillance and intelligence collection, as well as the option of supporting strike operations if politically and legally authorised. The SkyGuardian belongs to the wider MQ-9 family operated by several allied nations, and by September 2025, this family had accumulated more than 9 million flight hours, which provides operators with extensive operational data relevant to sustainment, mission planning, and potential integration of additional mission capabilities.
Belgian planners have highlighted a dual-track approach to potential armament that favours munitions already familiar to the national inventory as the initial, lower-risk route to capability. One named candidate is the Brimstone missile, which has been trialled for MQ-9-family integration in the United Kingdom and is already in RAF service as a precise short-range anti-vehicle weapon. Brimstone is the short-range, fire-and-forget anti-vehicle missile that figures prominently in UK thinking about arming remotely piloted aircraft, and it is often discussed because of its precision and reduced collateral effects compared with larger stand-off weapons. Developed by MBDA, Brimstone has been integrated into RAF operations as a dedicated anti-armour and moving-target munition and was trialled on MQ-9 family platforms in British projects that explored missile carriage, release dynamics, and targeting workflows. That UK experience matters for Belgium because it provides an existing technical and certification pathway that could be referenced or adapted, but any Belgian use of Brimstone on MQ-9B SkyGuardians would still require national testing, release-envelope validation, changes to stores management, and formal approval chains before the weapon could be declared operational.
Belgium’s current fighter inventory and future F-35A purchases point to a short list of candidate munitions that are practical first steps for MQ-9B integration because they are already familiar to crews and stocked in national supply chains. Laser-guided bombs in the Paveway family and GPS-guided JDAM kits are routinely used by Belgian F-16s today and are planned for the F-35A, which makes them logical initial candidates since their guidance, fuzing, and mission planning procedures are already practised by Belgian aircrews. The advantages of choosing these bomb classes include streamlined logistics, common training syllabi for target designation and strike planning, and simpler software and hardware modifications compared with integrating new missile families. At the same time, not all fighter weapons map to a remotely piloted strike role, so air-to-air missiles and large stand-off systems in the F-35 inventory are not realistic candidates for MQ-9B employment and would remain specific to crewed fighters.
Equipping MQ-9Bs with the same classes of precision munitions used by F-16s and F-35s would allow the Belgian Air Force to present a more flexible and persistent strike architecture while retaining interoperability with NATO partners. In practical terms, the MQ-9B’s long endurance and high on-station time could be paired with fighter assets to provide continuous sensor coverage, rapid follow-on strike options, and an ability to sustain effects over time with fewer crewed sorties, but that operational gain depends on certified releases, shared targeting procedures, and robust command approval channels. Major General Geert De Decker has described the Air Force’s work on these pathways as an examination of armament options tied to certification and rules of engagement, framing the effort as a doctrinal and logistical evolution rather than an immediate operational change; Belgian planners stress that parliamentary oversight, training, and stepwise technical validation remain prerequisites before any armed employment can occur.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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Belgium’s Air Component and Defence Minister confirmed work is underway to prepare technical and procedural steps that would allow MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones to carry the same precision munitions used by Belgian F-16s and planned for F-35s; Brimstone is explicitly named as a candidate.
On September 25, 2025, at Florennes Air Base, Belgian Air Force Commander Major General Geert De Decker confirmed that Belgium is examining the possibility of arming its MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, stating that the Air Force is “looking into” the integration of precision weapons and pointing directly to Brimstone as one of the missiles under consideration. He explained that the goal is to prepare the technical and operational groundwork so that, if parliament authorises it, the drones could eventually be equipped with the same types of precision-guided munitions already in use on Belgian F-16s and planned for the future F-35A fleet.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Belgian officials say the newly arrived MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones could one day carry Brimstone precision missiles, a weapon already in service with the UK Royal Air Force, if parliament authorizes armed use. (Picture source: MBDA)
Defence Minister Theo Francken, standing alongside De Decker, gave a detailed outline of how the government views the MQ-9B SkyGuardian programme and the potential step toward an armed configuration. He confirmed that Belgium has ordered four MQ-9B aircraft with contractual options for additional systems, and that the fleet is being acquired to perform long endurance missions in international theatres where Belgian forces are already active. He stated that the aircraft will remain under political control at every stage of their employment and that any use of weapons would only take place within strict national rules of engagement and with explicit parliamentary approval.
Francken explained that implementation of an armed capability would be phased, beginning with the certification of the airframes, the technical integration and testing of weapons, and the complete training of operators before deployment could occur. He added that command-and-control frameworks will need to be established to guarantee oversight and operational clarity once certification and training are complete. He also situated the MQ-9B within Belgium’s wider force structure by noting that its long endurance and persistence are seen as complementary to the speed and strike capacity of the current F-16 fleet and the future F-35A aircraft, while reiterating that the government treats armament as a possible future option that requires preparation, validation, and political decision-making rather than as a change already in effect.
Belgium’s discussion about arming remotely piloted medium altitude long endurance aircraft has evolved from an ethical and doctrinal debate into a set of concrete legal, technical, and parliamentary considerations. Political debate has been ongoing for several years and included high-level scrutiny in committees and at the party level, with a resolution tabled on 1 October 2024 that pushed the issue into formal parliamentary channels and accelerated work on rules of engagement and certification procedures. Critics and supporters have reframed their positions around implementable safeguards rather than abstract principles, producing a focus on national authorisation chains, target approval procedures, and oversight mechanisms needed to permit armed employment if the government so decides. That parliamentary and ministerial attention has been a decisive factor in moving the discussion from principle to practicable steps without presuming an immediate operational change.
Belgium’s acquisition of the MQ-9 system developed over several years through formal procurement processes and parliamentary approval before the first deliveries were made. The Ministry of Defence signed a contract for four MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft, with options included for expanding the fleet to six systems if required. The first airframe was delivered to Florennes Air Base in August 2025 and carried out its first flight in Belgian airspace on 23 September of the same year. To prepare crews, Belgian personnel began training in the United States, where the aircraft’s main manufacturer operates training facilities for partner nations. Additional phases of tactical and operational training are planned with the United Kingdom, which is also acquiring the MQ-9B under the RAF Protector programme and has already obtained a Military Type Certificate for the platform from the UK Military Aviation Authority. This cooperation provides Belgium with access to experience in certification procedures, sustainment practices, and integration pathways, particularly regarding potential future weapons, while Florennes has been equipped with ground control stations and maintenance facilities to support both training and eventual operational use.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft designed for persistent surveillance and potential precision strike roles depending on national authorisation. The platform has a wingspan of approximately 24 metres and a maximum take-off weight of around 5,670 kilograms, with nine external hardpoints that can carry a variety of payloads, including sensors or, after approval and integration, precision-guided munitions. The aircraft is capable of remaining airborne for more than 40 hours, operating at altitudes above 12,000 metres, and is fitted with systems such as detect-and-avoid technology, satellite-based beyond-line-of-sight communications, and de-icing equipment that enable integration into controlled airspace and operation in varied weather conditions. These characteristics allow for persistent surveillance and intelligence collection, as well as the option of supporting strike operations if politically and legally authorised. The SkyGuardian belongs to the wider MQ-9 family operated by several allied nations, and by September 2025, this family had accumulated more than 9 million flight hours, which provides operators with extensive operational data relevant to sustainment, mission planning, and potential integration of additional mission capabilities.
Belgian planners have highlighted a dual-track approach to potential armament that favours munitions already familiar to the national inventory as the initial, lower-risk route to capability. One named candidate is the Brimstone missile, which has been trialled for MQ-9-family integration in the United Kingdom and is already in RAF service as a precise short-range anti-vehicle weapon. Brimstone is the short-range, fire-and-forget anti-vehicle missile that figures prominently in UK thinking about arming remotely piloted aircraft, and it is often discussed because of its precision and reduced collateral effects compared with larger stand-off weapons. Developed by MBDA, Brimstone has been integrated into RAF operations as a dedicated anti-armour and moving-target munition and was trialled on MQ-9 family platforms in British projects that explored missile carriage, release dynamics, and targeting workflows. That UK experience matters for Belgium because it provides an existing technical and certification pathway that could be referenced or adapted, but any Belgian use of Brimstone on MQ-9B SkyGuardians would still require national testing, release-envelope validation, changes to stores management, and formal approval chains before the weapon could be declared operational.
Belgium’s current fighter inventory and future F-35A purchases point to a short list of candidate munitions that are practical first steps for MQ-9B integration because they are already familiar to crews and stocked in national supply chains. Laser-guided bombs in the Paveway family and GPS-guided JDAM kits are routinely used by Belgian F-16s today and are planned for the F-35A, which makes them logical initial candidates since their guidance, fuzing, and mission planning procedures are already practised by Belgian aircrews. The advantages of choosing these bomb classes include streamlined logistics, common training syllabi for target designation and strike planning, and simpler software and hardware modifications compared with integrating new missile families. At the same time, not all fighter weapons map to a remotely piloted strike role, so air-to-air missiles and large stand-off systems in the F-35 inventory are not realistic candidates for MQ-9B employment and would remain specific to crewed fighters.
Equipping MQ-9Bs with the same classes of precision munitions used by F-16s and F-35s would allow the Belgian Air Force to present a more flexible and persistent strike architecture while retaining interoperability with NATO partners. In practical terms, the MQ-9B’s long endurance and high on-station time could be paired with fighter assets to provide continuous sensor coverage, rapid follow-on strike options, and an ability to sustain effects over time with fewer crewed sorties, but that operational gain depends on certified releases, shared targeting procedures, and robust command approval channels. Major General Geert De Decker has described the Air Force’s work on these pathways as an examination of armament options tied to certification and rules of engagement, framing the effort as a doctrinal and logistical evolution rather than an immediate operational change; Belgian planners stress that parliamentary oversight, training, and stepwise technical validation remain prerequisites before any armed employment can occur.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
