Belgium Army

The Land Component (Composante Terre) forms the land warfare branch of the Belgian Armed Forces, commanded from its operational headquarters in Evere. Conventional maneuver forces consist of two formations: the Dutch-speaking 1st Brigade, headquartered in Leopoldsburg, and the French-speaking 7th Brigade, headquartered in Marche-en-Famenne. Command of special operations units resides within the Special Operations Regiment at Heverlee, which controls the 2nd Commando Battalion, 3rd Parachute Battalion, and Special Forces Group. Combat engineering, artillery, reconnaissance, communications, and logistical units operate from garrisons in Spa, Tournai, and Peutie.

The force operates an all-wheeled inventory, having retired its main battle tanks. Motorized infantry units field Piranha IIIC 8x8 armored personnel carriers, ATF Dingo 2 protected vehicles, and LMV Lynx light armored vehicles. Reconnaissance and light tactical transport duties are fulfilled by Fox Rapid Response Vehicles and Wolf Light Tactical Transport Vehicles. Fire support relies on LG1 Mark II 105mm towed howitzers and 120mm heavy mortars. Air defense capabilities are being reconstituted through short-range ground-based air defense acquisitions, while tactical utility helicopter support is transitioning to Airbus H145M aircraft.

Through the Capacité Motorisée (CaMo) partnership with France, the Land Component is re-equipping its maneuver units to achieve full operational integration with the French Army's SCORPION architecture, incorporating shared combat information systems and digital radios. Combat formations are fielding Griffon 6x6 multi-role armored vehicles, Jaguar 6x6 reconnaissance and combat vehicles armed with 40mm cannons and anti-tank missiles, and Serval 4x4 light armored vehicles. Indirect fire capability is expanding through the acquisition of CAESAR Mk II 155mm self-propelled howitzers and Griffon MEPAC 120mm mortar carriers. Domestic manufacturing participation includes local vehicle assembly by Belgian contractor MOL CY and integration of remote weapon stations produced by FN Herstal.

Operational commitments center on NATO collective defense, territorial security, and international coalition deployments. Land forces deploy rotated motorized infantry and combat support contingents to NATO forward presence missions on the alliance's eastern flank in Eastern Europe. Domestically, army personnel support internal security and critical infrastructure protection under national emergency mandates. Historical overseas combat and peacekeeping experience includes operational deployments to Afghanistan, Mali, Iraq, and the Balkans.