Country catalog

Belgium Weapons and Military Equipment

Browse 24 weapon systems built or assembled in Belgium, including armored vehicles, infantry weapons, and related systems, with images, specifications, source notes, and conflict records.

24 weapon systems

24Catalog records

5Equipment categories

8Leading builders shown

8Conflict links shown

Category Mix

Armored Vehicles1 Infantry Weapons6 Munitions15 Naval Systems1 Support Equipment1

Builder Links

FN Herstal8 MECAR7 Thales Belgium4 Chemring3 FN America2 Multiple ammunition manufacturers2 Various manufacturers2 Arsenal de Lorient1

Conflict Coverage

2001 War in Afghanistan62014 Russia-Ukraine War52014 War Against the Islamic State41990 Gulf War12003 Iraq War12009 Boko Haram Insurgency12011 Sinai Insurgency12012 M23 Rebellion1

YPR-765, Tracked infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier family, Armored Vehicles

2014 Russia-Ukraine War, 2011 Sinai InsurgencyYPR-765Tracked infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier familyBuilt by: FMC / DAF / RSV / RDMThe YPR-765 and Belgian AIFV-B are closely related branches of FMC's AIFV family, a tracked infantry fighting vehicle and armored carrier derived from the M113 lineage. Dutch and Belgian vehicles combine aluminum armor with spaced steel applique, road and amphibious mobility, and variant-specific weapons ranging from a 25 mm cannon to machine guns, TOW missiles, MILAN launchers, medical-evacuation fittings, or remote weapon stations. SIPRI transfer data and Dutch official aid lists identify 353 AIFV-APC/YPR tracked armored vehicles delivered or pledged to Ukraine, and Ukrainian border-guard reporting cited by Army Recognition shows Belgian-made AIFV-B-C25 vehicles joining the same wartime AIFV/YPR family in Ukrainian service.

GAU-21, .50-caliber machine gun, Infantry Weapons

2001 War in Afghanistan, 2003 Iraq WarGAU-21.50-caliber machine gunBuilt by: FN HerstalThe GAU-21 is the U.S. Navy designation for FN Herstal's M3M .50-caliber machine gun, a high-rate, open-bolt aircraft gun for rotary-wing mounts. NAVAIR's 2004 contract notice framed it as a common Navy and Marine Corps assault-support weapon system, and DVIDS imagery documents Marine GAU-21/A use from CH-53 and UH-1Y helicopters in Afghanistan and Iraq.

FN Minimi light machine gun, 5.56x45mm NATO light machine gun, Infantry Weapons

2017 Battle of Marawi, 2014 War Against the Islamic State +2 moreFN Minimi light machine gun5.56x45mm NATO light machine gunBuilt by: FN Herstal / FN AmericaThe FN Minimi is a Belgian belt-fed light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale for squad automatic fire, with 5.56 mm NATO models widely fielded as national variants such as the U.S. M249, Canadian C9, and Australian F89. In the 2014 Yemen Civil War, Amnesty International reported Belgian Minimis deployed by The Giants Brigades, tying the weapon to UAE-backed coalition-aligned ground forces around the Hodeidah offensive.

FN MAG general-purpose machine gun, 7.62x51mm NATO general-purpose machine gun, Infantry Weapons

2009 Boko Haram Insurgency, 2014 War Against the Islamic State +1 moreFN MAG general-purpose machine gun7.62x51mm NATO general-purpose machine gunBuilt by: FN Herstal / FN America / Royal Small Arms FactoryThe FN MAG is FN Herstal's Belgian 7.62x51mm NATO belt-fed general-purpose machine gun family, fielded from infantry bipods, tripods, vehicles, aircraft, ships, and boats. The catalog record connects the MAG and its M240/L7A2/MAG 58 designations to directly sourced conflict evidence: surrendered Boko Haram-held stocks in Nigeria, coalition base-defense training during Operation Inherent Resolve, and Afghan special-operations weapons training during the War in Afghanistan.

Browning Hi-Power pistol, 9x19 mm single-action semi-automatic pistol, Infantry Weapons

2014 War Against the Islamic StateBrowning Hi-Power pistol9x19 mm single-action semi-automatic pistolBuilt by: FN HerstalThe Browning Hi-Power is a 9x19 mm single-action semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and completed by Dieudonne Saive at FN. Adopted by Belgium in 1935 as the P35, it became a standard service pistol for British airborne users and NATO forces and was the first successful 9 mm single-action automatic pistol with a double-stack magazine.

12.7 mm heavy machine gun, Belt-fed, crew-served heavy machine gun class, Infantry Weapons

12.7 mm heavy machine gunBelt-fed, crew-served heavy machine gun classBuilt by: FN Herstal, CANiK, and other licensed producersThe 12.7 mm heavy machine gun class covers the Browning M2 lineage and compatible .50-caliber variants such as the M2A1, M2HB-QCB, and CANiK M2 QCB. U.S. Army Reserve Cold Steel materials show the M2 trained on mounted military platforms including the HMMWV, while Army, Marine, and manufacturer sources place the family on tripods, vehicles, boats, aircraft, and remote weapon stations.

FN M3P .50-caliber machine gun, Remote-fired .50-caliber machine gun, Infantry Weapons

FN M3P .50-caliber machine gunRemote-fired .50-caliber machine gunBuilt by: FN HerstalThe FN M3P is FN Herstal's .50-caliber (12.7x99 mm) single-barrel high-rate-of-fire machine gun for remote firing from aircraft, ground vehicles, naval craft, and remote weapon stations. FN says the M3P entered U.S. service on the Avenger in 1989, and Army reporting later shows it reused on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.

5.56x45 mm cartridge, 5.56x45 mm NATO small-arms cartridge, Munitions

2014 Russia-Ukraine War, 2001 War in Afghanistan5.56x45 mm cartridge5.56x45 mm NATO small-arms cartridgeBuilt by: FN Herstal / Multiple ammunition manufacturersThe 5.56x45 mm cartridge is the NATO-standard small-arms cartridge family derived from FN Herstal's SS109 work and standardized by NATO in 1980. The page tracks both the cartridge's technical lineage and direct conflict evidence, including Canadian 5.56 mm ammunition for Ukraine and U.S. Army M855A1 fielding in Afghanistan.

5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, 5.56x45mm NATO small-arms cartridge, Munitions

2014 Russia-Ukraine War, 2001 War in Afghanistan +1 more5.56x45mm NATO cartridge5.56x45mm NATO small-arms cartridgeBuilt by: FN Herstal / Multiple ammunition manufacturersThe 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge is the NATO-standard small-arms cartridge family built around FN Herstal's SS109 lineage, standardized by NATO in 1980 and produced by many ammunition makers. This entry tracks both its technical family context and direct conflict evidence, including Canadian 5.56 mm ammunition supplied for Ukraine, U.S. Army M855A1 fielding in Afghanistan, and 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition recovered from Islamic State forces in Iraq.

LAU-32 rocket launcher, 7-tube 70 mm rocket launcher, Munitions

LAU-32 rocket launcher7-tube 70 mm rocket launcherBuilt by: Thales BelgiumThe LAU-32 is a Belgian reusable seven-tube 70 mm launcher for fixed-wing aircraft. Thales Belgium describes it as an aluminum pod with a central tube surrounded by six equally spaced tubes, electronic intervalometer firing, and MOD.4/MOD.5 configurations separated by detent hardware and FFAR or wrap-around rocket compatibility.

FZ90 rocket motor, 70 mm wrap-around rocket motor, Munitions

2012 M23 RebellionFZ90 rocket motor70 mm wrap-around rocket motorBuilt by: Thales BelgiumFZ90 is Thales Belgium's 70 mm wrap-around rocket motor for air-to-ground rockets. The MOD.2/S version uses a solid double-base composite propellant, reduced smoke and launch signature, and extended standoff range, while public SAAF reporting ties FZ90-armed Rooivalk helicopters to MONUSCO combat operations against M23 positions in eastern DRC.

76mm Canister M333, 76 mm canister round, Munitions

76mm Canister M33376 mm canister roundBuilt by: MECARThe 76mm Canister M333 is a Belgian MECAR fixed canister round for the Saladin and Scorpion 76 mm gun family. Nexter's 2016 ammunition catalog lists it for the L5A1 and L23/L23A1 guns, with a thin-walled projectile carrying steel pellets for close-quarters anti-personnel use at about 100 metres effective range.

76mm Blank M335, 76 mm fixed blank cartridge, Munitions

76mm Blank M33576 mm fixed blank cartridgeBuilt by: MECAR / ChemringThe 76mm Blank M335 is a fixed 76 mm blank cartridge from the MECAR/Chemring ammunition line for the Saladin and Scorpion gun family. Nexter's catalog lists the round for training sound effects and saluting rather than live-fire target effects, with compatibility across the L5A1 and L23/L23A1 76 mm guns.

76mm HEP-T M329, 76 mm fixed HESH-T / HEP-T tank-gun round, Munitions

76mm HEP-T M32976 mm fixed HESH-T / HEP-T tank-gun roundBuilt by: Chemring / MECARThe 76mm HEP-T M329 is a MECAR high-explosive squash head service round for the British L5A1 and L23/L23A1 76 mm gun family used on Saladin and Scorpion vehicles. Nexter's 2016 ammunition catalog lists it as an in-service fixed HESH-T round for personnel, bunkers, light armour, structures, and other material targets, with a Composition A3-filled projectile, base-detonating graze fuze, M23 tracer, and 533 m/s nominal muzzle velocity.

76mm HEP-TP-T M331, 76 mm fixed HESH-TP-T training round, Munitions

76mm HEP-TP-T M33176 mm fixed HESH-TP-T training roundBuilt by: Chemring / MECARThe 76mm HEP-TP-T M331 is a MECAR 76 mm fixed HESH-TP-T training round for the Saladin L5A1 and Scorpion L23/L23A1 gun family. Nexter's 2016 ammunition catalog describes it as an in-service inert projectile with tracer, brass cartridge case, 533 m/s nominal muzzle velocity, and ballistic similarity to the M329 service round for live-fire gun-crew training.

76mm SMK-T M337, 76 mm fixed smoke round, Munitions

76mm SMK-T M33776 mm fixed smoke roundBuilt by: MECARThe 76mm SMK-T M337 is MECAR's 76 mm white-phosphorus smoke round for the L5A1 and L23/23A1 guns used by the Alvis Saladin and FV101 Scorpion. Nexter's 2016 catalog describes it as a qualified fixed SMK (WP)-T cartridge with an M23 tracer, a point-detonating fuze, and the same 2,400 m direct-fire / 6,000 m indirect-fire range class as other rounds in the family.

76mm HE-T M330, 76 mm high-explosive tracer round, Munitions

76mm HE-T M33076 mm high-explosive tracer roundBuilt by: MECARThe 76mm HE-T M330 is a Belgian MECAR fixed high-explosive tracer round for the L5A1 and L23/L23A1 gun family used by Saladin and Scorpion vehicles. Nexter catalogs it as an in-service infantry fire-support round for personnel and materiel targets, built around a Composition B-filled fragmentation projectile with an M23 tracer and 514 m/s nominal muzzle velocity.

90 mm HEAT projectile, 90 mm high-explosive anti-tank projectile, Munitions

90 mm HEAT projectile90 mm high-explosive anti-tank projectileBuilt by: GIAT Industries / Nexter Munitions / MECARThe 90 mm HEAT projectile is a French high-explosive anti-tank tracer round family associated with GIAT 90 mm light vehicle guns, especially the CN90F1 / DEFA D921 on AML-90-family turrets. Public ammunition references identify OCC 90-62 and related OCC 90 F1/F2 listings, while Nexter/MECAR documentation ties the later M630 service and M653 training-practice rounds specifically to CN 90 F1 guns.

2.75-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions

2.75-inch rocket podAircraft rocket podBuilt by: Various manufacturersThe 2.75-inch rocket pod is an external aircraft launcher class for 70 mm aerial rockets, spanning fixed-wing and rotary-wing pods such as LAU-32, LAU-61, LAU-68, M260/M261, and FZ231-family launchers. Manufacturer sources document seven-, twelve-, and nineteen-round examples, while General Dynamics describes Hydra-70 rockets as compatible with existing seven- and nineteen-tube launchers on aircraft including Apache, Cobra, and F-16.

LAU-series rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod family, Munitions

LAU-series rocket podAircraft rocket pod familyBuilt by: Various manufacturersLAU-series rocket pods are external aircraft launcher pods for 2.75-inch / 70 mm and 5-inch / 127 mm aerial rockets. The designation family spans four-tube LAU-10 Zuni pods, seven-tube LAU-32 and LAU-68 launchers, nineteen-shot LAU-3 and LAU-61 launchers, and CRV7-related LAU-5002 / LAU-5003 pods; most named LAU launchers are reusable, while some adjacent CRV7 launcher designations are disposable.

FZ231 rocket launcher, Composite 70 mm rocket launcher, Munitions

FZ231 rocket launcherComposite 70 mm rocket launcherBuilt by: Thales BelgiumThe FZ231 is Thales Belgium's reusable 12-tube composite 70 mm rocket launcher for helicopters, with a Launcher Interface Unit distinguishing it from the closely related FZ219. It fires FZ 2.75-inch FFAR and WA rocket motors and is documented on AW109, H145M, and HAL LCH/Prachand aircraft, while public documentation identifies platform integration and firing tests rather than independent battlefield employment of the launcher itself.

FZ275 LGR, Laser-guided 70 mm rocket, Munitions

2014 Russia-Ukraine WarFZ275 LGRLaser-guided 70 mm rocketBuilt by: Thales BelgiumThales Belgium's FZ275 LGR is a semi-active laser-guided 70 mm rocket that turns the long-running FZ 2.75-inch rocket family into a precision munition. It is fired from standard FZ launchers, has been integrated on helicopters and vehicle-mounted systems, and public reporting ties FZ123-equipped rockets to Ukrainian VAMPIRE and Mi-8 counter-drone use during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Tripartite class minehunter, Minehunter class, Naval Systems

1990 Gulf War, 2014 Russia-Ukraine WarTripartite class minehunterMinehunter classBuilt by: Arsenal de LorientThe Tripartite class is a Franco-Belgian-Dutch minehunter family built around low-magnetic composite hulls, precise minehunting propulsion, hull sonar, divers, and remote mine-disposal vehicles. The French Éridan, Dutch Alkmaar, and Belgian Flower/Aster branches gave NATO navies a common Cold War mine-countermeasures design, later exported or transferred to Pakistan, Indonesia, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. French ships are documented clearing Iraqi mines off Kuwait in the 1990 Gulf War, while Belgian and Dutch Tripartite-family boats were transferred to Ukraine during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War for maritime security and future Black Sea mine clearance.

12.7 mm gun pod, 0.50-caliber gun pod, Support Equipment

2001 War in Afghanistan12.7 mm gun pod0.50-caliber gun podBuilt by: FN HerstalFN Herstal's 12.7 mm HMP family is a fixed-forward airborne gun pod built around the company's .50 cal M3P machine gun for helicopters and subsonic aircraft. The HMP400 variant carries 400 rounds, appears in AT-6 Wolverine stores material, and was documented on Afghan Air Force MD-530 Jengi helicopters deploying to Helmand operations in 2015.