Belgian army armoured vehicles show cracks
The Belgian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that almost all 127 Piranha armoured vehicles in its fleet have structural cracks. Despite this, many remain in service.
The Piranha, which entered service in 2008 and is manufactured by the Swiss company MOWAG, has in most cases been grounded for repairs. However, the Ministry of Defence assures that some vehicles have been cleared for use without restrictions, while others remain operational with certain restrictions. Repairs can be carried out domestically and the vehicles' protection and firepower capabilities remain intact.
Belgium has ordered replacements for the Piranha fleet, but delivery is not expected until late 2026. In the meantime, other vehicles such as the Dingo could be used for overseas missions.
If we don't act, we might as well learn Russian or move to New Zealand
The revelation comes amid calls from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for European countries to significantly increase their defence spending. Speaking at the European Parliament earlier this week, Rutte warned that "if we don't act, we might as well learn Russian or move to New Zealand".
Defence analyst Alexander Mattelaer (Egmont Institute and VUB) has described Belgium as a "zombie state" in defence and security matters. Speaking to De Standaard, he pointed to the country's complex funding structure, in which the federal government relies on regional allocations, leaving defence with dwindling resources.
© BELGA PHOTO GERARD GAUDIN
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