FN Herstal has partnered with HENSOLDT to compete for a government contract aimed at enhancing Belgium’s counter-drone capabilities. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the protection of military air bases across the country.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding during the DSEI UK 2025 defence exhibition, formalising their intent to jointly pursue the long-term counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) programme. Their proposed solution combines FN Herstal’s weapons systems with HENSOLDT’s sensor technologies, detection tools and tracking software.
“Together, we are committed to meeting the Belgian Defence’s strategic requirements,” FN Herstal stated.
This move reflects Belgium’s broader efforts to modernise its armed forces and invest in technological innovation to safeguard critical infrastructure. As one of NATO’s founding members and host to its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium continues to play a key role in international defence.
W strategic report published in 2025, Defence Minister Theo Francken emphasised the need for a “thorough transformation” of the Belgian military to better address the challenges of modern warfare.
Earlier this year, the Belgian government announced plans to increase defence spending by up to four billion euros (£3.4 billion), ahead of NATO’s collective pledge to raise defence budgets to 5 percent of GDP by 2035. Additionally, the United States recently approved a $567.8 million (£460 million) sale of RTX’s AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to Belgium.
The collaboration between FN Herstal and HENSOLDT aims to position both companies as key contributors to Belgium’s future defence capabilities.
Źródło zdjęcia: FN Herstal.
