Belgium emerges as top candidate for US AIM-120 AMRAAM missile co-production in Europe.

Belgium is emerging as a leading candidate to host European co-production of the AIM-120 AMRAAM, after the U.S. ambassador in Brussels, Bill White, signaled strong support for the bid in a press conference on April 29, 2026, potentially positioning the country as a key node in NATO’s missile supply chain. This contract would directly expand Western air combat and air defense capacity by shortening production cycles and reinforcing stockpiles critical for sustained high-intensity operations.

The AMRAAM project would center on industrial work led by FN Herstal, focusing on component manufacturing and potentially final assembly, giving Belgium a Tier-2 role in one of NATO’s most widely used air-to-air and ground-based interceptors. By linking domestic demand from F-35 fighters and NASAMS air defense systems with local production, the initiative creates a continuous supply loop that strengthens readiness, accelerates resupply, and supports the broader shift toward scalable missile production across Europe.

Related topic: Belgium could soon produce US AMRAAM air-to-air missiles as Europe races to restore air defense capabilities

By late 2023, the AMRAAM production had already reached ~1,200 missiles/year, but is now expected to reach at least 1,900 missiles/year following a new agreement with the US Department of War in February 2026. (Picture source: US Air Force)

On April 29, 2026, L'Avenir reported that Belgium appeared to be a leading candidate for the co-production of AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles after the U.S. ambassador in Brussels, Bill White, indicated that the country had a very high chance of securing the contract. The industrial work is expected near Zutendaal, Flanders, with a central role for FN Herstal. The program concerns the missile produced by Raytheon and includes the manufacturing of selected components and the possible transfer of final assembly activities to Belgium. The decision is expected within several months, with confirmed competition from other European states, including the Netherlands.

The industrial logic is tied to U.S. efforts to increase AMRAAM output, which reached about 1,200 missiles per year in 2024, with plans to expand further to meet NATO demand. If implemented, the project would involve several hundred million dollars in investment and could generate multi-year production activity. Belgium’s position is directly linked to its own procurement volume, which creates a quantifiable baseline demand for AMRAAM missiles across both air and ground systems. Its NASAMS acquisition covers ten batteries, including nine for Belgium and one for Luxembourg.

With a program cost of about €2.5B excluding missiles, and each launcher configured for six interceptors, this results in an immediate requirement of several hundred missiles, with unit costs exceeding $1M depending on the variant, implying a procurement envelope in the hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition, Belgium has ordered 34 F-35 Lightning II jets, with a potential increase to 44-45 units, requiring sustained stocks of beyond-visual-range missiles for operational readiness, training, and reserve inventories. This combination creates a recurring demand cycle driven by reload requirements and lifecycle sustainment.

This establishes Belgium as both a production candidate and a structurally embedded customer within the AMRAAM system. The industrial entry point is concentrated around FN Herstal, which is positioned to act as the primary integrator for Belgian participation in the program. The company reports annual revenue close to €900M, employs about 3,000 personnel, and allocates between 10 and 15 percent of turnover to research and development. Its capabilities include precision machining, assembly of munitions systems, and compliance with NATO production standards, which are directly relevant to missile component manufacturing and integration.

The company’s ownership by the Walloon regional government creates a direct policy-industrial interface, allowing coordinated decisions on infrastructure and workforce. The presence of a single dominant industrial actor reduces fragmentation and simplifies program management compared to countries with multiple competing defense primes. This structure lowers coordination costs and limits delays associated with subcontractor distribution. It also allows a clearer allocation of responsibilities within the supply chain. Belgium’s participation in U.S.-aligned defense programs reduces the regulatory and technical barriers associated with entering the AMRAAM production chain.

The country is part of the F-35 program, with 34 aircraft ordered, and participates in industrial work through entities such as Be-Lightning, which produces structural components for the aircraft. Historical involvement in F-16 co-production and maintenance established long-term cooperation with U.S. defense contractors and validated compliance with export control frameworks. These factors reduce onboarding time for sensitive production activities and limit legal uncertainty. The workforce is already familiar with NATO interoperability standards and U.S. technical requirements, which reduces the need for extensive retraining.

Existing certification for secure supply chains also simplifies integration into programs subject to strict control measures. This continuity of cooperation lowers implementation risk for the prime contractor. Belgium’s geographic position provides measurable logistical advantages within NATO’s European network, particularly for the distribution and sustainment of missile systems. The country is located between Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, with direct access to major infrastructure such as the port of Antwerp, one of Europe’s largest maritime hubs. The national transport network includes dense rail and road systems capable of handling high-value and sensitive cargo.

This positioning reduces transit distances to operational air bases and storage facilities across Western and Central Europe. It also lowers transport risk by minimizing cross-border handling and exposure time for controlled components. For a system like AMRAAM, which is deployed across multiple NATO forces, shorter delivery routes translate into faster replenishment cycles. These logistical factors directly influence cost efficiency and operational readiness. The AMRAAM supply chain remains structured around a centralized control model, with Raytheon acting as the prime contractor responsible for design authority and overall system integration.

Critical subsystems such as the radar seeker, guidance electronics, and software architecture remain under U.S. control and are not transferred to partner countries. Propulsion is provided by Nammo, based in Norway and Finland, representing the main non-U.S. contribution to the system. Structural components, including airframe sections and mechanical assemblies, are distributed across multiple suppliers and represent the most accessible entry point for new participants. Final assembly has historically been conducted in the United States but is now under consideration for partial relocation to Europe, including Belgium, as FN Herstal possesses a factory near the Zutendaal Air Base in Flanders.

This contract would place Belgium at the Tier-2 level of the AMRAAM supply chain, focused on integration and manufacturing rather than core subsystem development. The structure reflects a controlled distribution of production tasks while maintaining centralized control over critical technologies. Belgian policy has aligned with U.S. industrial objectives, particularly through initiatives led by Defense Minister Theo Francken, who has invited U.S. defense companies to establish production activities in Belgium. He has highlighted low national stockpiles of missiles and the need for rapid industrial scaling as key drivers for this approach.

The policy framework accepts foreign-controlled production without requiring full technology transfer, which aligns with U.S. priorities to expand output while retaining control over sensitive subsystems. This reduces negotiation complexity compared to countries seeking greater industrial sovereignty. It also provides predictability for long-term investment and production planning. The approach reflects a direct link between procurement needs and industrial policy. This alignment increases the likelihood of Belgium being selected as a production site within the AMRAAM program.

The AIM-120 AMRAAM remains a core munition for NATO air combat and air defense, as a radar-guided beyond-visual-range missile capable of engaging aircraft, drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles. It entered service in 1991 and has been adopted by more than 35 countries, with integration on fighter aircraft such as the F-35 and on ground-based systems such as NASAMS. Current variants, including the AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D, incorporate active radar homing, inertial navigation, and fire-and-forget capability, with ranges exceeding 160 km and operational ceilings above 35 km depending on the configuration.

The missile supports mid-course updates via data links, enabling engagement of maneuvering targets and simultaneous targeting of multiple threats. Its use across both air and ground systems creates a unified missile architecture that simplifies logistics and training. Continuous upgrades, including improved resistance to electronic countermeasures, sustain the AMRAAM's operational relevance. This sustained demand underpins ongoing efforts to expand production capacity and diversify manufacturing locations, including potential assembly in Belgium.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.