On 6 July, the council of ministers of the Belgian government
authorized Defense Minister Pieter De Crem to issue calls for tender
under the 2012 defense investment plan. These include calls for tender
for 70 remote weapons stations for the Light Multipurpose Vehicle (LMV),
4,500 modular carbines with day sights to replace FNC rifles currently
in service, and two ready duty ships for coast guard duties.
This is part of the 242 million
euros in defense investments approved by the council of ministers on 11
May. The 2012 defense investment plan also includes acquisition of
short- and medium-range anti-fortification and anti-armor weapons to
replace the Milan anti-tank guided missile, the Personal Defence Weapon
to replace the GP 9mm pistol, and 90 mm practice ammunition for the
Piranha III Armoured Infantry Vehicle (AIV) for the Belgian army.
For the air force, the F-16 Commonality
and Interoperability Consolidation Program will be continued, four
advanced targeting pods will be acquired, as will equipment for forward
air controllers, ground-to-air radios for local air traffic control, and
new airfield firefighting vehicles.
Finally, Multinational Space-based
Imaging System (MUSIS) satellite communication terminals will replace
the existing obsolete terminals.
