OOB Belgium 2004

Current manpower for the Belgium army is 47.350 including civilians.
The new plans for 2015 calls for a degrade to 39.500 men.

Vision 2015:

This plan calls for a major restructuring of the army.
The landcomponent will be organised with a command(COMOPSLAND) 2 mechanized brigades,one airmobile brigade,combatsupportunits and 4 trainingcentres.
All tank units(now having some LEOPARD I in service) will disband the tanks and receive wheeled AFVs, probably the French Pandur 105mm vehicle.
Each brigade will have 3 mech infantrybattalions,1 reconnaisance battalion, 1 fieldartillerybattery and 1 logistic/combatsupport battallion.
The airmobile brigade will have a command company,3 infantrybattalions,1 reconnaissance company, 1 artillerybattery and 2 trainingcentres.
Support and combat troops will include communications and informationgroups, 1 AAA unit, a helicoptersquadron,3 logistic battalions,2 engineerbattalions, 1 SF battalion,1 intelligence company and an MP company.
The aircomponent will have a command(COMOPSAIR),2 combat wings with F16's(10 wing at Kleine Brogel and 2 wing at Florennes)
1 transport ,15 wing at Melsbroek, Sar squadron at Koksijde and support units.
1 wing at Beauvechain will become the training unit.
The Navy component(COMOPSNAV) will remain most the same, in addition they will receive a strategic transport squadron.

Current structure:

NAVY:
The operational command of the Belgium and Dutch navy are integrated in a joint NL/BE command with main HQ at Den Helder.
(ABNL)
Personell strength, 2.400

Frigates:
3 Wielingen class ships
Mine warfare forces:
7 ASTER class minehunterships
Patrol:
1 river patrol craft
Auxiliaries:
2 command/supportships
1 research and surveyship
1 support ship
1 sail training ship
6 caostal/harbor tugs
Naval Aviation:
3 SA.316B alouettes
Major Naval Base: Zeebrugge

Note, the Asters are being modernised, the Wilingen class aslo but they are sceduled for replacement in the near future.
An additional requirement was set to replace the Alouette choppers.

LANDFORCES:

Personell: 15.031

Structure:
1 Staff and 1 HQ company with,
2 mech brigades.
1st MechBde at Leopoldsburg and 7th MechBde at Marche.
See vision 2015 for units.
1 PARA/Commando brigade at Heverlee
See notes of vision 2015 for units.

Independent units earmarked to support the mech brigades:
1 CIS regiment
1 UAV battery, 3 batteries with 6 B-HUNTER UAVs each
1 Battlefield surveillance squadron
1 intelligence company
1 SF company
1 air defense battalion
2 engineer battalions
1 airtransport battalion with BN ISLANDERS.
1 helicopterregiment with 2 bn with A109 multitrole helis and a maintanance unit
3 logistic support battalions
1 MP company
1 EOD unit

Equipment:
MBT:
Leopard 1A5( being progressively withdrawn)
AIFV and APC:
514 YPR 765 of which
236 IFV with 25 mm gun
218 PRAT with MILAN ATGW
56 CP versions
525 M113 A1
54 Pandurs
AFVs:
111 SCIMITAR(30mm gun)
16 SULTANS
7 SAMSONS
6 SAMARITANS
75 SPARTANS
Artillery:
14 x L105 mk 2
108 M109 155mm SP
Mortars:
60 x towed 120mm 120RT
ATGW: 420 MILAN(includes vehiclemounted) TOW2
SAMS:
118 MISTRAL
Army Aviation:
3 batallions with,
15 x SA 318 ALOUETTE II
6 Augusta A109( 18 recon and 28 Antitank armed with TOW 2)
40 Augusta A109BA version
5 BN ISLANDER

AIRFORCE:

Personell: 8.300
Structure:
Combat:
2nd tac wing with 2 squadrons No1 and No 350
10th tac wing with No 31 and No 349 squadron
Each equiped with 36 F16A/B
Transport:
15th airliftwing at Melsbroek,
1 sq with 11 C130
1 sq with 2 x A.310/2 x ERJ-135/2 x FALCON20  and a FALCON 900 vip.
SAR:
1 squadron with Sea King Mk48
Trainers:
1 wing with 3 squadrons equiped with:
29 Alpha jets( being withdrawn)
33Sf-260MB
10 CM170
MAJOR AIR BASE: Kleine Brogel,Koksijde,Beauvechain,Florennes,Melsbroek.

Note:
7 x A400m transports on order to replace the C130.
17 x F16 in storage