This article represents the structure of the Belgian Armed Forces as of May 2020:
Chief of Defence
The Belgian Armed Forces are headed by the Chief of Defence with the rank of General, who is assisted by a Vice-Chief of Staff and three Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) with the rank of Lieutenant General. Six general directorates headed by Major Generals manage the bureaucratic aspects of the Belgian Armed Forces.[1]
- Chief of Defence
- Vice-Chief of Defence
- Policy & Governance Support Cluster (Gv Spt)
- Staff Department Strategy (ACOS Strat)
- Staff Department Operations and Training (ACOS Ops & Trg)
- Staff Department Intelligence and Security (ACOS IS)
- Defense Inspector General
- General Directorate Health & Well-being (DG H&WB)
- General Directorate Legal Support (DG Jur)
- General Directorate Strategic Communication (DG StratCom)
- General Directorate Budget and Finances (DG BF)
- General Directorate Material Resources (DG MR)
- General Directorate Human Resources (DG HR)
- Land Component
- Air Component
- Maritime Component
- Medical Component
Land Component
The Land Component (French: Composante Terre Dutch: Landcomponent) is commanded by a Major general and has the following organization:
- Land Component Operational Command (COMOPSLAND), in Evere[2]
- Land Component Competence Centre, in Leopoldsburg[3]
- Competence Centre - Engineer Department, in Namur
- Competence Centre - Maneuver Department, in Stockem
- Military Police Group, in Evere[4]
- Explosive Removal and Destruction Service (DOVO-SEDEE), in Oud-Heverlee[5]
- Movement Control Group, in Peutie[6]
- Civil-Military Engagement Group, in Heverlee and Nieuwpoort (Civil-military co-operation & psychological warfare unit)[7]
- 29th Logistic Battalion, in Grobbendonk[8]
- Field Accommodation Unit, at Beauvechain Air Base (a company-sized unit tasked with building military camps for out of area operations)[9]
- Training Camp Elsenborn, in Bütgenbach[10]
- Training Camp Lagland, in Arlon[11]
Motorized Brigade
The Motorized Brigade (French: Brigade Motorisée Dutch: Gemotoriseerde Brigade) is the Belgian land formation assigned to NATO[12]
- Motorized Brigade, in Leopoldsburg[13][12]
- Headquarters and Services Company, carrying the traditions of the 8th/9th Regiment of the Line, in Leopoldsburg
- Jagers te Paard Battalion (ISTAR), in Heverlee[14]
- Headquarters and Services Squadron, A and B squadrons with Pandur IB reconnaissance vehicles (will be replaced by EBRC Jaguar) and Voltigeurs Platoons for dismounted reconnaissance, C Squadron with Elta SCB-2130A radars, D Squadron (Training)
- 1st/3rd Lancers Battalion, in Marche-en-Famenne[15]
- "Bevrijding" - 5th Line Battalion, in Leopoldsburg[16]
- Headquarters and Services Company, 3x infantry companies with Piranha IIIC wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (will be replaced by VBMR Griffons)
- Chasseurs Ardennais Battalion, in Marche-en-Famenne[17]
- Headquarters and Services Company, 3x infantry companies with Piranha IIIC wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (will be replaced by VBMR Griffons)
- Carabiniers "Prins Boudewijn" - Grenadiers Battalion, in Leopoldsburg[18]
- 12th Line "Prince Léopold" - 13th Line Battalion, in Spa[19]
- Headquarters and Services Company, 3x infantry companies with Dingo 2 infantry mobility vehicles (will be replaced by VBMR Griffons) and 1x reserve infantry company (German speaking?)
- Artillery Battalion, in Brasschaat
- Headquarters and Services Battery, Mortar Battery with 120mm mortars, Howitzer Battery with LG1 105mm howitzers (a third battery armed with 155mm howitzers will be raised)
- 4th Engineer Battalion, in Amay
- 11th Engineer Battalion, in Zwijndrecht
- Headquarters and Services Company, Light Combat Engineers Company, Combat Engineers Company, Construction Company
- 4th Communication and Information Systems Group, in Marche-en-Famenne
- 10th Communication and Information Systems Group, in Leopoldsburg
- 4th Logistic Battalion, in Marche-en-Famenne
- 18th Logistic Battalion, in Leopoldsburg
- Training Camp Beverlo, near Leopoldsburg
- Training Camp Marche, near Marche-en-Famenne
Special Operations Regiment
The Special Operations Regiment combines the Belgian paratroopers, special operations and special forces units. All units of the regiment are airborne qualified.[20]
- Special Operations Regiment, in Marche-en-Famenne[20]
- Headquarters and Services Company, carrying the traditions of the 4th Commando Battalion in Heverlee
- Special Forces Group, in Heverlee
- 2nd Commando Battalion, in Flawinne
- Headquarters and Services Company, 12th, 13th, and 16th commando companies
- 3rd Paratroopers Battalion, in Tielen
- Headquarters and Services Company, 17th, 21st and 22nd paratrooper companies
- 6th Communication and Information Systems Group, in Peutie
- Commando Training Centre, in Marche-les-Dames
- Paratroopers Training Centre, at Schaffen Air Base
Air Component
The Air Component (Dutch: Luchtcomponent French: Composante Air) is commanded by a Major general and has the following organization:[21]
- Air Component Operational Command (COMOPSAIR), in Evere
1st Wing
The 1st Wing operates all helicopters, with the exception of the NH90 NFH helicopters supporting the Maritime Component.
2nd Tactical Wing
The 2nd Tactical Wing is one of two Air Component fighter wings and operates F-16AM Falcon fighters, which will be replaced by F-35A Lightning II from 2023.[28]
10th Tactical Wing
The 10th Tactical Wing is one of two Air Component fighter wings and operates F-16AM/BM Falcon fighters, which will be replaced by F-35A Lightning II from 2023.[29] As part of NATO's nuclear sharing the US Air Force's 701st Munitions Support Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing stores B61 tactical nuclear weapons at Kleine Brogel for use with Belgian F-16AM Falcon.
15th Air Transport Wing
15th Air Transport Wing operates the tactical and strategic airlift aircraft of the Belgian Armed Forces. Additionally it provides VIP transport services to the Belgian government.
Meteo Wing
The Meteo Wing provides meteorological services to the Belgian Armed Forces and operates 10 remotely operated weather stations across Belgium.[31]
- Meteo Wing, at Beauvechain Air Base
- Military Meteorological Forecasting Centre
- Meteorological School
- Maintenance Workshop
- Meteorological Telecommunications Unit
Naval Component
The Naval Component (Dutch: Marinecomponent French: Composante marine) is commanded by a Divisional admiral.[32] The Maritime Component's ships fall operationally under the joint Belgian-Dutch Maritime Headquarters Benelux in Den Helder, which is commanded by the Dutch Admiral Benelux. The commander of the Belgian Naval Component doubles as Deputy Admiral Benelux.[33]
Maritime Headquarters Benelux
Naval Component Operational Command
- Naval Component Operational Command (COMOPSMAR), in Zeebrugge
- Naval Component Competence Centre, in Bruges
- Naval Component Logistics Centre, in Zeebrugge
- Naval Base Zeebrugge, in Zeebrugge
Medical Component
The Medical Component (French: Composante Médicale Dutch: Medische Component) is commanded by a Major General and has the following organization:
- Medical Component Operational Command (COMOPSMED), in Evere
- Medical Component Competence Centre, in Neder-Over-Heembeek[46]
- Queen Astrid Military Hospital, in Neder-Over-Heembeek[47]
- 14th Medical Battalion, in Peutie and Lombardsijde[48]
- 23rd Medical Battalion, in Leopoldsburg and Marche-en-Famenne[49]
- Headquarters and Services Company, 3x medical companies (supporting the Motorized Brigade)
- 5th Medical Supplies and Distribution Element, in Nivelles
Reconnaissance 
Infantry 
Commandos/ Paratroopers 
Special Forces 
Artillery 
Engineers 
CIS 
Logistics 
Military Police
Fighter bases 
Helicopter bases 
Other units
Medical units
