On July 21, Belgium’s national day, Brussels sent a clear political signal to its European partners by announcing its decision to join the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), known in French as Système de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF). This decision, long delayed due to governmental hesitation and public criticism of Europe’s industrial fragmentation, is now formalized in Belgium’s 2025 Strategic Defense Vision. Through this commitment, Belgium expresses its intention to become a “full partner” in a program so far led by France, Germany, and Spain. Read more.
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| The FCAS is a multinational defense initiative launched in 2017, bringing together several European countries, France, Germany, and Spain, with the shared goal of developing a sixth-generation fighter jet intended to eventually replace aircraft such as the Rafale and the Eurofighter. (Picture source: Dassault Aviation) |