2023-11-11 20:38:00
The government has given the green light to the launch of a public contract to adapt the infrastructure of the military districts of Marche-en-Famenne, in the province of Luxembourg, and Bourg-Léopold (Limburg) in order to adapt them to entry new French-built armored vehicles are in service, we learned on Saturday from a government source.
On the proposal of the Minister of Defense, Ludivine Dedonder (PS), the Council of Ministers marked its agreement on Friday on the launch of two public contracts for Defense. The first concerns the creation of infrastructure for the benefit of what the military called motorized capacity (CaMo in jargon) in Marche-en-Famenne and Bourg-Léopold, the minister’s office indicated in a laconic press release.
No amount has been specified, but this contract involves, according to the newspaper ‘Het Belang Van Limburg’, a total of 240 million euros, including 134 million intended for the Bourg-Léopold garrison, which houses two military units. motorized infantry – the battalions Bevrijding-5 Linie and Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn-Grenadiers (in French Libération-5è de Ligne and Carabiniers Prince Baudouin-Grenadiers). The balance, i.e. 116 million euros of investments, will go to the Roi Albert camp in Marche-en-Famenne, which also hosts two motorized units (the Ardennes Hunters and the 1/3 Lancers battalion).
According to Defense, this work is necessary to adapt the infrastructure of the two garrisons to the arrival – expected from 2025 – of the new armored vehicles from the French Scorpion program (for “Contact synergy reinforced by versatility and infovalorization”). purchased in 2018 by Belgium for an amount of 1.6 billion euros: 382 Griffon multirole light armored vehicles and 60 Jaguars (or Armored Reconnaissance and Combat Vehicles, EBRC). They must in particular replace the current “Armoured Infantry Vehicles” (AIV) of the Piranha III type and the light armored MPPV (“Multipurpose Protected Vehicles”) of the Dingo II type.
The first “scorpionized” unit will be, in 2025, the Bevrijding-5 Linie battalion from Bourg-Léopold, according to Defense plans.
The army is also planning the recreation, in the north of the country, of a second cavalry battalion to implement, alongside the Lancers of Marche-en-Famenne, the 60 Jaguars. The Lancers will be the first battalion converted in 2026 and will reach the “initial operational capability” (IOC) stage in 2027.
According to ‘Het Belang van Limburg’, a second phase of infrastructure work must concern the barracks of Lombardsijde (West Flanders and Spa (province of Liège). A third phase will concern the districts of Amay (province of Liège) , Burcht and Brasschaat (both located in the province of Antwerp).
The Council of Ministers also authorized Ms. Dedonder to enter into “an open multi-year service contract for the provision of training ships for periods of practical training at sea” for the benefit of the Navy, indicated the Chancellery of the Prime Minister in a press release, without further details.
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