European Nation Modernizes Military Pilot Training Fleet With Euro 40 Million Annual Investment

Belgium – The Belgian Federal Cabinet has approved the acquisition of 18 new Pilatus PC-7 MKX turboprop training aircraft, marking a major modernization of the country’s military flight training fleet and ending over five decades of service by the Marchetti SF-260.

• The contract, valued at approximately €40 million per year, covers the aircraft acquisition as well as flight simulators, infrastructure upgrades at Beauvechain Air Base, and 20 years of operational support.

• Deliveries and infrastructure development will take place through 2027, with the final SF-260 scheduled for retirement that same year. Pilot training on the new PC-7 MKX is planned to begin in 2028.

• Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken described the acquisition as a strategic investment in national defence capability and pilot training modernization.

• “With this decision, we are investing in the future of our military aviation. After France and the Netherlands, Belgium has now also opted for the latest PC-7 MKX from Pilatus, an aircraft that delivers outstanding training performance,” Francken said.

• The PC-7 MKX, introduced by Pilatus in 2023, features a digital glass cockpit, integrated avionics suite, and full compatibility with NATO-standard pilot training systems. The aircraft bridges the gap between basic and advanced training phases, allowing seamless transition to jet instruction platforms.

• Belgium now joins a growing list of European operators—including France and the Netherlands—adopting the PC-7 MKX for military pilot training, underlining its increasing role in Europe’s next-generation training ecosystem.

Source: Belgian Ministry of Defence