Belgium's Defense Minister, Ludivine Dedonder, would like to invest an additional 3 billion Euros to strengthen the national strategic armaments plan. These would be in addition to a 9.2 billion investment already approved by the Government in 2016. Most of the money will be used to modernize the military helicopter fleet, with the purchase of 22 new aircraft, including also the purchase of 34 F-35 fighter jets from the American Lockheed Martin. 

This is what the local newspaper "La Libre Belgique" claims. The current fleet of four NH-90s manufactured by the European company NH Industries in the ground version Tactical Transport Helicopter would be replaced by new tactical transport aircraft: 14 light and 4 heavy rotary-wing aircraft. The Belgian Army also has another 4 NH-90s in the marine version NATO Frigate Helicopter currently used for Search and Rescue (SaR) missions at sea. Again, four new aircraft would be purchased so that the NH-90s can be deployed on board the frigates. 

The new investments will also be used to purchase an A-330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) military aircraft, naval missile batteries and long-/short-range surface-to-air Sams and drones.