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Belgium |
Current Title: | Luchtcomposant/Composant Ačrienne |
Title in English: | Belgian Armed Forces Air Component |
Abbreviation: | FABCA |
Narrative Summary:
One aircraft brought for Army Balloon Company (Compagnie des Ouvriers et Aerostiers) in July 1910. Aircraft section separated from Balloon section as Compagnie des Aviateurs on 16 April 1913. Air arm reorganised as Aviation Militaire on 20 March 1915. Renamed Aeronautique Militaire in 1925. In 1936 Defence Aerienne du Territore (DAT) formed, comprising Aeronautique Militaire and an anti-aircraft artillery organisation. Many aircraft destroyed on the ground during May 1940 invasion, with survivors retreating to France and then Britain. On 1 October 1946 the Belgische Luchtmacht/Force Aerienne Belge (Belgian Air Force) was formed from the Belgian squadrons of the British RAF. On 2 January 2002 all branches of the Belgian Armed Forces were combined under a single unified command. The Belgian Air Force became the Air Component.
Key Dates: | ||
1 October 1946 | Air Force formed from former Belgian-manned RAF units | |
1949 | First jet aircraft delivered - Meteor F.4 | |
1954 | First helicopters received - Sycamore | |
2 January 2002 | Air Force becomes Armed Forces Air Component |
Current Status:
Future Plans:
To be added
Complete the MLU upgrading of the F-16A/B to F-16AM/BM standard.
F-16 fleet to be reduced to 60 aircraft.
Planned procurement of 7 Airbus A400M transport aircraft.
Markings
National Insignia:
Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Belgian Air Component aircraft and helicopters use a letter-number serialling system - a one or two letter prefix designating the aircraft type and a one, two or three digit number for each airframe, e.g. F-16A FA22.
Current --- Historical
Aircraft
Aircraft Designation System(s):
Current Aircraft Inventory:
All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Aircraft NOT Used:
None - Manufacturers designations used.
Table of Current Service Aircraft
Alphabetical Order --- Chronological Order
False reports of aircraft on order or in service
Organisation
Current Organisational Structure:
Current Order of Battle:
Historical Orders of Battle:
All-Time Flying Units List:
Main Headquarters:
Quartier Reine Elisabeth, Rue D'Evere, 1140 Bruxelles.
The flying units of the Belgian Air Component are administered by COMOPSAIR (Command Operations Air), which replaced the previous Tactical Air Force Command and Training & Instructional Group in September 2000. Additionally, Base Command is responsible for the infrastructure and maintenance. Individual Smaldeel (squadrons) are grouped into single airbase Wings.
Table of Current Order of Battle
List of Historical Orders of Battle - to be added.
To be added.
Air Bases
Current Air Bases:
All-Time Air Bases Used List:
The main air bases currently used are Beauvechain, Florennes, Kleine Brogel, Bierset, Elsenborn, Koksijde and Brussels-Melsbroek. In addition, Belgian aircraft are detached to Cazaux in France for joint pilot training with the AdlA.
In addition to the current main bases, some older bases have been closed and there are also a number of smaller airports and airfields around the country which are sometimes used by the Air Force.
Military Air Bases Listing - to be added.
More Information
Books:
Belgian Military Aviation Bibliography - to be added.
Magazines:
To be added.
Websites:
Official Air Component Website
Air-Britain Photos: Belgium Air Force
Belgian military aircraft register
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First Created: 24 November 1995 - Last Revised: 8 June 2008
Copyright © 1995 John Hayles. e-mail: john@aeroflight.co.uk