Belgium Could Become Europe’s New U.S. AIM-120C8 AMRAAM Air-to-Air Missile Production Hub.

U.S. RTX is planning to relocate production of the AIM-120C8 AMRAAM air-to-air missile to Belgium, positioning the country as a potential European manufacturing hub for the widely used NATO weapon. The move would free U.S. production capacity to focus on the newer AIM-120D3 variant, a key missile upgrade for next-generation allied air combat.

Belgium is emerging as a potential hub for advanced missile manufacturing in Europe as U.S. RTX moves forward with plans to shift production of the AIM-120C8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) to the continent. The initiative is intended to free U.S. manufacturing capacity so RTX can accelerate production of the next-generation AIM-120D3 variant, a missile expected to play a central role in future NATO air combat operations.
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RTX plans to move AIM-120C8 AMRAAM missile production to Belgium, expanding NATO manufacturing while freeing U.S. capacity for the AIM-120D3 (Picture source: US DoD)

Information regarding the initiative surfaced through defense analyst Jeff21461 on X on March 14, 2026, indicating that RTX is actively working with industry partners in Belgium to establish the necessary supply chain. According to details shared by the analyst, the company is currently engaging with at least 30 Belgian firms as part of an effort to build a comprehensive European production ecosystem capable of supporting the AIM-120C8 manufacturing process. This effort reflects a broader strategy to geographically distribute missile production while reinforcing NATO’s industrial resilience.

Designed and produced by RTX of the United States, the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile is the primary BVR air-to-air weapon for numerous NATO air forces and allied nations. It equips a wide range of fighter aircraft including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, and the F-35 Lightning II, providing advanced air-to-air engagement capabilities that allow pilots to neutralize enemy aircraft well before visual contact.

The AIM-120C-8 represents one of the most advanced operational variants of the AMRAAM family and incorporates substantial improvements in range, seeker precision, and resistance to electronic countermeasures. The missile builds upon earlier C-model variants by integrating several hardware and software upgrades derived from the AIM-120D development program while remaining compliant with export requirements for allied nations. The missile can reach targets at ranges exceeding 160 km under optimal launch conditions. Guidance is provided through a combination of inertial navigation and an advanced active radar seeker, allowing the missile to engage targets beyond visual range while maintaining high accuracy even in contested electronic warfare environments.

The missile’s advanced guidance architecture enables mid-course updates from the launching aircraft via secure data links, allowing pilots to adjust the missile’s trajectory toward maneuvering targets before the onboard radar seeker activates in the terminal phase. This capability allows the AIM-120C-8 to engage multiple targets simultaneously, a feature that significantly enhances the effectiveness of modern fighter formations conducting network-centric air combat operations.

F-35B Lightning II Fighter Jet Fires AIM 120 AMRAMM Missile (Picture source: US DoD)

The AMRAAM missile family has been operational since the early 1990s and has accumulated thousands of test and operational firings across multiple air forces. Continuous upgrades throughout the program’s lifecycle have incorporated feedback from operational deployments, flight testing, and evolving threat assessments conducted by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. The AIM-120C-8 variant represents a continuation of this iterative modernization approach, integrating new electronics, improved software architecture, and enhanced kinematic performance to address modern aerial threats.

Compared with legacy medium-range air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-7 Sparrow or Russian-designed R-27 variants, the AIM-120C-8 offers a significantly higher probability of kill, improved resistance to electronic jamming, and true all-weather engagement capability. Within the evolution of the AMRAAM family, the C-8 introduces incremental but operationally significant improvements over earlier C-5 and C-7 variants, particularly in areas such as mid-course guidance accuracy, electronic counter-countermeasures, and overall engagement envelope.

Although the European Meteor missile developed by MBDA of France represents a competing long-range air-to-air weapon featuring a ramjet propulsion system that can provide extended range performance, the AIM-120C-8 remains widely favored by many NATO and partner air forces due to its lower cost, high reliability, and compatibility with a broad range of legacy fighter aircraft. This interoperability allows air forces operating upgraded fourth-generation fighters to maintain advanced beyond-visual-range combat capabilities without requiring major aircraft modifications.

Belgium will primarily integrate the AIM-120C-8 missile with its fleet of F-35A Lightning II multirole stealth fighters operated by the Belgian Air Component. Belgium ordered 34 F-35A aircraft to replace its aging F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet, with initial aircraft already delivered and additional jets progressively entering service.

By relocating production of the C-8 variant to Europe, RTX would allow its U.S. production facilities to concentrate on manufacturing the more advanced AIM-120D3 variant. The D3 introduces further improvements in guidance algorithms, data-link performance, and electronic protection designed for highly contested environments where adversaries deploy sophisticated jamming and electronic warfare systems.

Establishing a European supply chain for the AIM-120C8 could significantly strengthen NATO’s logistical resilience. Recent geopolitical tensions and operational demands have highlighted the importance of distributed defense production among allied nations. By expanding missile manufacturing capacity within Europe, NATO countries can reduce dependence on single production facilities while accelerating the replenishment of critical air-to-air missile inventories.

Belgium offers a strong industrial environment for advanced defense manufacturing. The country hosts numerous aerospace and defense technology companies specializing in precision machining, electronics, propulsion components, and advanced materials. Belgian firms already participate in various multinational defense programs and aerospace supply chains supporting NATO platforms and weapon systems.

The engagement of at least 30 Belgian companies indicates that RTX intends to develop a distributed industrial ecosystem capable of producing critical missile components ranging from structural elements and propulsion parts to advanced electronics and guidance subsystems. Such a network would not only support AMRAAM production but could also reinforce Europe's broader defense manufacturing capabilities.

For Belgium, participation in the AMRAAM production network would strengthen its role within NATO’s defense industrial base while providing significant economic and technological benefits. Integration into the supply chain of one of the most widely used air-to-air missiles in the world could stimulate innovation in high-precision manufacturing, avionics, and advanced materials engineering.

As NATO air forces continue to modernize their combat aircraft fleets and prepare for high-intensity air combat scenarios, the demand for reliable beyond-visual-range missile systems continues to grow. By expanding the AMRAAM production base into Europe while simultaneously advancing the next-generation AIM-120D3 program in the United States, RTX is positioning the AMRAAM family to remain a central pillar of allied air superiority strategies for decades to come.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.