Belgium Arms SkyGuardian Drones with Brimstone Missiles
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) announced on July 23 at the Farnborough International Airshow that the Belgian Armed Forces will equip their MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones with Brimstone 3 air-to-ground missiles from the European manufacturer MBDA. The initial order comprises sixteen Brimstone 3 missiles and four launch systems, transforming the drones from purely reconnaissance platforms into fully-fledged precision-strike systems.
Context
The decision marks a significant shift in Belgium’s defense posture. The MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, based at Florennes Air Base, were originally procured as unarmed Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. Belgium ordered four of these aircraft from US manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, with options for up to six, in a contract valued at several hundred million euros. The first drone arrived at Florennes in August 2025 and conducted its maiden flight in Belgian airspace on September 23, 2025.
Prior to the MQ-9B acquisition, Belgium already operated MQ-9A Reaper drones for ISR missions, including deployments in the Sahel region, but without an integrated strike capability. The country is also acquiring F-35A stealth fighters and has approved a €34 billion defense plan covering 1,500 combat vehicles, a third warship, and additional drone systems.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Minister Francken discussed the final details of the purchase with MBDA’s CEO during the airshow. “With the integration of Brimstone missiles, we turn our SkyGuardians into a fully-fledged operational capability that gives our soldiers more protection and Defense more striking power,” Francken said.
Key Developments
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a cutting-edge drone capable of remaining airborne for over 40 hours, operating above 12,000 meters, and integrating into civilian-controlled airspace through its detect-and-avoid systems. It uses beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications and electro-optical and infrared sensors, with an open architecture allowing future integration of additional payloads and weapons.
The Brimstone 3 missile, developed by MBDA UK, is a European-produced munition manufactured in the UK and Germany. It combines millimeter-wave radar and semi-active laser guidance, enabling it to engage moving targets with extreme precision and minimal collateral damage. Originally designed as an anti-armor weapon, it has evolved into a multi-role precision munition used operationally by the Royal Air Force in Libya, Iraq, and Syria.
As Belgian Wings reports, because the UK Royal Air Force completed preparatory work for integrating this weapon onto their own Protector drones, Belgium can benefit from tests and qualifications that have already been completed. “The war in Ukraine shows every day how important unmanned systems have become,” Francken stated. “They allow us to react faster, limit risks for our soldiers, and act very precisely when necessary. Our country must also have this modern capability.”
According to Army Recognition, Belgium is simultaneously advancing the integration of US-made AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles, with a package valued at approximately $30 million expected to cover those munitions. This gives the fleet complementary engagement profiles: Brimstone provides rapid engagement against moving targets with greater terminal autonomy through its radar seeker, while Hellfire remains a widely used weapon suited for long-duration armed-surveillance missions. A separate €10 million contract has been placed with MBDA for the Brimstone missiles.
Analysis
The decision represents a major departure from Belgium’s previously cautious stance on armed drones, which had been constrained by parliamentary debates and political oversight concerns. The new government coalition decided that drones may now be armed, reflecting a more pragmatic approach to defense policy driven by lessons from the war in Ukraine. Belgium also joined the drone coalition supporting Ukraine in May 2025, further signaling its commitment to unmanned systems.
Belgium’s choice of the European Brimstone missile over exclusively US options signals support for European defense industrial autonomy. The missile is produced entirely within Europe — at MBDA facilities in the UK and Germany — strengthening intra-European defense cooperation even though the drone platform itself is American. This aligns with developments among British NATO allies, as AIN Online reported that General Atomics and MBDA signed a memorandum of understanding at Farnborough to integrate additional MBDA weapons — including the Spear missile — onto the MQ-9B platform.
The military significance is substantial. The MQ-9B transforms from a passive surveillance asset into a hunter-killer platform capable of persistent armed overwatch. Within NATO operations, this endurance allows maintenance of armed surveillance with fewer crewed-aircraft sorties. A Belgian MQ-9B could monitor an area for hours before immediately engaging a hostile vehicle or firing position identified through its onboard electro-optical systems.
What’s Next
Operational capability for the armed drones is expected within months. Belgium is collaborating with the UK government for documentation, training, and potential temporary provision of support equipment to accelerate the process. The UK is also examining whether it can temporarily provide support materiel so that the Belgian military can operationalize the new capability more quickly.
The Belgian MQ-9Bs are expected to operate alongside future F-35A aircraft and allied command networks, contributing to a distributed surveillance and precision-strike structure increasingly central to European deterrence planning. There is also potential for expanding the fleet from four to six aircraft.
Several questions remain, including the specific rules of engagement that will govern the use of armed drones, potential deployment theaters such as the Sahel or Eastern Europe, and how Belgium will balance the European Brimstone and US Hellfire systems operationally. What is clear, however, is that Belgium has crossed a significant threshold — transforming its drone fleet from passive observers into active participants in the modern battlespace.