Airbus Helicopters delivered the first H145M to the Kingdom of Belgium on June 24, 2026, at its Donauwörth, Germany facility, while concurrently announcing that the nation has exercised options for three additional aircraft to bring its total fleet order to 20.

In a press release issued by Airbus, the manufacturer confirmed the delivery marks a major milestone in modernizing Belgium’s defense and law enforcement aviation capabilities. The original procurement contract, facilitated through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) in 2024, initially covered 15 helicopters for the Belgian Armed Forces and two for the Belgian Federal Police. The three newly exercised options are designated for the Federal Police, finalizing the 20-aircraft fleet structure.

Fleet expansion and delivery details

The handover ceremony in Donauwörth solidifies Belgium’s commitment to the multi-role platform. Thomas Hein, Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters, emphasized the significance of the expanded orders and the operational trust placed in the aircraft.

“This platform has become the definitive European reference for military multi-mission capabilities. Belgium’s decision to extend their fleet to 20 aircraft is a powerful testament to the deep trust placed in our team and the H145M’s ability to meet today’s evolving security challenges,” Hein stated.

Hein also noted that Airbus is honored Belgium is joining a growing community of European nations utilizing the H145M for critical operations. The global fleet of the H145 family has accumulated 8.5 million flight hours to date, providing a proven operational baseline for the new Belgian aircraft.

Technical capabilities and mission flexibility

The Airbus H145M is engineered for rapid reconfiguration to support diverse mission profiles. According to the manufacturer, operators can convert the aircraft within minutes from a light attack configuration, which includes axial ballistic and guided weapons alongside self-protection systems, to a special operations setup equipped with fast-rappelling gear.

The helicopter features advanced digital connectivity designed to integrate into networked combat environments and operate alongside uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). Power is delivered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The flight deck utilizes the Helionix digital avionics suite, which incorporates a 4-axis autopilot to reduce pilot workload during complex missions.

AirPro News analysis

We view Belgium’s decision to exercise its remaining options so early in the delivery cycle as a strong indicator of the H145M’s established reputation within NATO and European defense frameworks. By utilizing the NSPA for procurement and selecting a platform already widely adopted across the continent, Belgium ensures streamlined maintenance, training, and interoperability with allied forces. The dual-allocation strategy, splitting the fleet between the Armed Forces and the Federal Police, also highlights a growing trend among European nations to leverage single-platform economies of scale across both military and civil law enforcement domains.

Sources: Airbus

This article summarizes reporting by Reuters by Angelo Amante.

Italy is actively courting new international partners, including Germany and Saudi Arabia, to join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) in an effort to distribute the sixth-generation fighter’s escalating development costs. The overture follows the recent collapse of a rival European fighter project, positioning the trilateral alliance of the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan to potentially absorb displaced industrial partners.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announced the expansion strategy in Rome on June 23, 2026. According to Reuters, Crosetto emphasized that broadening the coalition would increase the program’s viability by sharing the massive financial burden required to field the advanced aircraft by its 2035 target date.

Expanding the international coalition

The GCAP initiative formally launched in December 2022 to develop a next-generation combat aircraft. While the core partnership remains between the UK Ministry of Defence, the Italian Ministry of Defence, and the Japanese Ministry of Defense, Italian leadership is now publicly identifying specific nations for potential inclusion.

Crosetto noted that Canada has expressed interest in joining the program as an observer, an arrangement Italy fully supports. Beyond observer status, the defense minister explicitly named Germany and Saudi Arabia as candidates for deeper involvement. He stated that adding these nations would improve the chances of successfully delivering the aircraft while driving down overall costs.

The invitation to Germany is particularly notable given the shifting landscape of European defense procurement. Earlier in June 2026, Germany and France abandoned the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) due to unresolvable industrial disputes between Airbus and Dassault Aviation. The dissolution of FCAS leaves Germany without a domestic sixth-generation fighter program, making GCAP a logical alternative. Leonardo S.p.A. Chief Executive Officer Lorenzo Mariani previously signaled support for this pivot on June 9, 2026, noting that Germany would bring valuable industrial expertise to the joint venture.

Financial pressures and upcoming milestones

Italy’s push for new partners aligns with a sharp increase in its domestic financial commitments to the project. In January 2026, the Italian Ministry of Defence informed its parliament that the estimated cost for the first two phases of GCAP had tripled. The projected expense rose from an initial estimate of €6 billion to €18.6 billion ($21.8 billion) as technology maturation and development requirements became clearer, according to Defense News.

Despite the rising costs, the core partners are advancing toward binding agreements. Breaking Defense reported that the UK is expected to sign a new international contract for the next phase of GCAP by the end of June 2026. This pending agreement, valued at £686 million ($905 million) for design and development work, follows mid-June meetings between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aimed at accelerating the program’s timeline.

AirPro News analysis

We view the potential integration of Germany into GCAP as a major realignment of the European aerospace sector. If Berlin formally pivots to the UK-Italy-Japan consortium, it would consolidate European sixth-generation fighter development under a single umbrella. However, integrating a partner of Germany’s industrial weight will require complex renegotiations of workshare. The current industrial arrangement is carefully balanced among BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Adding German contractors to the Edgewing joint venture would dilute the existing partners’ shares, potentially complicating the rapid development schedule required to meet the 2035 in-service target.

Sources: Reuters

The Hungarian Air Force completed the expansion of its fighter fleet on June 23, 2026, with the arrival of two Saab JAS 39 Gripen C aircraft at Kecskemét Air Base. The delivery finalizes a four-aircraft contract amendment signed in 2024, bringing Hungary’s total Gripen inventory to 18 airframes.

In a press release issued on June 24, 2026, Swedish manufacturers Saab AB confirmed the final handover in coordination with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Hungarian Ministry of Defence. The expanded fleet strengthens Hungary’s capacity to patrol its national airspace and contribute to integrated North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air defense operations.

Fleet expansion and operational history

The arrival of the final two fighters concludes a procurement process initiated on February 23, 2024, when the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and the FMV signed a contract amendment for four additional aircraft. The first two jets from this order were delivered in April 2026. All four new additions are operated by the 101st Aviation Wing.

With this delivery, the Hungarian Air Force now operates a total of 18 Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft, comprising 16 single-seat Gripen C models and two twin-seat Gripen D variants. The milestone coincides with the 20th anniversary of Gripen operations in Hungary, following an initial 2001 agreement for 14 airframes that officially entered service in 2006.

“We are proud of the Hungarian Air Force, which has now operated Gripen fighters for 20 years. Thanks to the support and service contract, the Hungarian Gripen fleet will maintain high availability and be continuously upgraded to fulfill all mission requirements for at least a decade ahead,” said Lars Tossman, Senior Vice President and Head of Saab Business Area Aeronautics.

Strategic context and industrial partnerships

The 2024 contract amendment for the four additional fighters was finalized during a period of geopolitical realignment, coinciding with Hungary’s ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO. The expanded fleet directly supports Hungary’s commitments to the alliance, enhancing interoperability and regional air policing capabilities.

Beyond aircraft procurement, Saab and the Hungarian Ministry of Defence maintain a Memorandum of Understanding focused on high-technology industrial development. This agreement includes the establishment of an Aviation Development Centre and a Centre of Excellence for virtual reality technologies within Hungary. Saab also holds a long-term support and service contract designed to maintain and upgrade the Hungarian Gripen fleet beyond 2035.

AirPro News analysis

The completion of this four-aircraft order underscores the enduring utility of the Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D platform for European air forces balancing budget constraints with NATO interoperability requirements. While Saab’s corporate communications occasionally present minor discrepancies regarding the exact signing month of the 2024 amendment, the rapid two-year turnaround from the February 2024 contract finalization to the June 2026 delivery highlights an efficient industrial pipeline. We view the accompanying industrial agreements, particularly the virtual reality Centre of Excellence, as a strategic mechanism for Saab to embed its support infrastructure deeply within operator nations, ensuring long-term revenue streams well beyond the initial airframe delivery.

Sources: Saab AB