The United States has approved Belgium’s purchase of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles valued at €280 million, the Belgian Defence Ministry confirmed on Tuesday.
The Pentagon had earlier indicated that the transaction could reach up to $567.8 million (about €480 million), but officials stressed that the higher figure reflected the maximum authorization level required for U.S. export licensing.
Speaking to Belgian media, Jan Van Camp, spokesperson for Defence Minister Theo Francken, explained that Washington routinely sets higher ceilings when notifying Congress of potential foreign military sales. “To accommodate possible adjustments from the purchasing country, the U.S. raises the authorised ceiling by an additional 30 to 50 percent. As a result, the official approval often exceeds the final contract value,” he said.
The final agreement is therefore about €200 million lower than the maximum amount approved by Congress.
The package includes several hundred missiles and associated guidance units intended for Belgium’s new F-35 fighter jets, which are gradually replacing the country’s F-16 fleet. According to the Pentagon, “this sale will improve Belgium’s capacity to address current and future threats, and bolster NATO’s defence mission.”
The acquisition is part of Belgium’s Ammunition Readiness Plan 2025, a multi-year program endorsed by the cabinet in July to address chronic shortages in ammunition stockpiles.
Delivery dates for the missiles have not yet been announced. Officials noted that high demand linked to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continues to delay supply schedules.
In a separate statement, the U.S. Department of Defense said the transaction also advances wider strategic aims: “The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a driver of political stability and economic progress in Europe.”
