DefenseBelgium to acquire five Cessna SkyCourier aircraft for special operations
Belgium plans to acquire five Cessna 408 SkyCourier aircraft to support special operations and special forces missions, according to a strategy paper released by the Ministry of Defense on 1 February in Brussels.
The aircraft will be procured under the STAR program, an aviation capability initiative focused on improving air mobility and support for special operations. The SkyCourier fleet will provide additional fixed-wing airlift capacity alongside rotary-wing assets used in tactical roles.
Each aircraft is expected to cost about €6.5 million. The SkyCourier is a twin-engine turboprop designed for short takeoff and landing operations. It has a maximum range of about 900 nautical miles, which reduces to roughly 400 nautical miles at a payload of 2,268 kg, and a cruise speed of around 200 kt.
The aircraft are produced by Textron Aviation at its Wichita, Kansas facility. The SkyCourier received certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration in March 2022.
Belgian companies will carry out mission-specific modifications. Sonaca and Sabena Technics are tasked with adapting the aircraft to operational requirements. Planned mission sets include observation, medical evacuation, signals intelligence, and fire support tasks.
The five SkyCouriers will be operated by a newly established Special Operations Squadron based at Beauvechain Air Base. Belgian authorities plan to maintain two aircraft available at any given time, supported by trained crews.
The SkyCourier acquisition forms part of a wider effort to strengthen special operations aviation. Belgium is also introducing new helicopters, including the Airbus H145M, and is assessing future medium- and heavy-lift transport aircraft. Initial operational capability for the SkyCourier fleet is targeted for the 2028–2029 timeframe.
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