Belgian Defence steps boldly into the future
The Ministry of Defence has unveiled the full Strategic Vision for Defence 2025, a bold roadmap to transform Belgium’s Armed Forces into a future-proof, tech-enabled force built for deterrence, resilience, and rapid response.
🚀 Innovation isn’t just a pillar, it’s the engine of this transformation.
Belgium is reimagining Defence with cutting-edge capabilities that reflect the changing character of warfare. Our military must not only defend, it must anticipate.
💡 Key innovation drivers include:
- Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems
- Drone and anti-drone warfare, including swarm tactics and countermeasures
- Electronic warfare and resilient C4ISR architecture for multi-domain awareness
- Offensive and defensive cyber capabilities
- Space-based systems and next-gen surveillance
- Direct collaboration with industry, academia and NATO partners
- A historic commitment: >3% of the Defence budget to R&D and innovation
🔍 Strategic Shift: From expeditionary to high-readiness deterrence
Belgium will move from a light, externally focused force to a combat-ready military able to defend national territory, contribute meaningfully to NATO, and respond flexibly to evolving threats.
📌 Strategic Objectives
- Protect our homeland with societal resilience and rapid response
- Prepare for high-intensity conflict with credible, well-equipped forces
- Anticipate the fight of tomorrow by integrating emerging technologies
💰 Where we’re investing
- Personnel: the foundation of military innovation
- Growth to 34,500 active troops, 12,800 reservists, and 8,500 civilians by 2035
- Launch of a voluntary military service year (1,000 youth/year)
- Tech-centric capability development:
- 11 F-35s, 1,500+ armoured vehicles, NASAMS & other air defence layers
- Armed drones (MQ-9B), AI-integrated systems, new EW platforms
- Space assets, data fusion systems, and ISR drones
- Modern support & infrastructure:
- Smart logistics, autonomous resupply, and a new medical hub
- Digital transformation of internal processes and battlefield systems
🏗️ Keys to Success
- Future-ready, distributed infrastructure for both combat and support
- Agile legal frameworks enabling rapid capability development
- Clear public communication on threats & national resilience
- Dual-use innovation with benefits for the broader economy
- A Defence career that is technologically advanced, relevant, and meaningful
📈 By 2035, Belgium will:
✅ Reach 2.5% of GDP in defence investment
✅ Lead in integrating disruptive tech into core operations
✅ Achieve high levels of readiness, resilience, and interoperability
✅ Play a strategic role in NATO and EU collective defence
📄 Read the full vision:
Dutch full version
French full version
Belgian Defence isn’t just modernising, it’s building the military of tomorrow.
