
“the equipment guy” | Defense Interested |Land Rover Enthousiast | Business Email: [email protected]
Belgium
Joined March 2018
- Tweets2K
- Following540
- Followers471
- Likes11.5K
StratCom Raoul retweeted
✈️ Premier posé à Évreux pour ARCHANGE !
Futur pilier du renseignement d’origine électromagnétique de l’AAE, le Falcon 8X prépare son entrée en service.
🎯 Diffuser en temps réel l’ordre de bataille électronique ennemi, éclairer la planification et mieux protéger nos forces.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
De Belgische veiligheidsdienst staat er al niet zo best op.
‘Leaked WhatsApps between ex-EU commissioner Reynders and senior Belgian spy reveal attempts to bury allegations of his [Reynders, red.] possible Russia ties’
Gift link: euobserver.com/243287/exclus…
StratCom Raoul retweeted
🤔
EXCLUSIVE: Elon Musk came to Donald Trump with the plan to throttle Ukraine’s use of SpaceX’s Starshield satellite internet network, sources have told the Telegraph.
The tech billionaire made the proposal during the US President’s row with Volodymyr Zelensky over strikes on Russian oil refineries.
‘The reality is that they were both in it,’ a senior source said of Musk’s and Trump’s involvement.
But after a night of carnage in Kyiv caused by the slowdown, Musk was alarmed about the possibility of adverse consumer reaction in Europe.
The SpaceX boss then proceeded to tweet, blaming the US administration, and ultimately, President Trump for authorising the slowdown.
‘He tweeted out that he was innocent and that it was the US administration that did it,’ the source said.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
Belgium’s F-35s are proving mission-ready. 🇧🇪 With deployment testing at Florennes now complete, the Belgian Air Force is gearing up for its next milestone: deploying overseas.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
.@LockheedMartin and @RheinmetallAG are moving rapidly to establish an ATACMS production capability in Europe, expanding allied manufacturing capacity for one of the world’s most proven missile systems. This partnership will further strengthen the transatlantic defence industrial base.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
Massale decontaminatie #CBRN: Defensie en civiele hulpdiensten oefenen samen mil.be/nl/news/massale-decon…
'Supporting Ukraine is not an act of charity. It is an act of self-interest.'
In the latest #RUSICommentary, Dr Greg Mills, @kvonhippel and Raimundo Robredo argue that Russia threatens democracies well beyond Europe, and that Ukraine's battlefield innovation and civilian resilience hold lessons for the West.
rusi.org/explore-our-researc…
StratCom Raoul retweeted
Er bestaan heel wat misvattingen over dat SAFE geld:
1. Het is geen 'free money'. Het zijn leningen die terugbetaald moeten worden. Je mag lenen aan de ECB-rates, dus je wint het verschil uit tussen de ECB-rate en wat je als land zelf moet betalen om je schuld te financieren (staatsobligaties). Pakweg 1 à 2%. Sommige landen hebben dus sowieso geen belang bij SAFE omdat hun eigen rates die van ECB benaderen. Al zijn er andere voordelen: je krijgt BTW vrijstelling en je mag het tijdelijk uit je Europees begrotingsdeficit houden. Tijdelijk. Uiteindelijk wordt het toch allemaal verrekend.
2. SAFE is bedoeld voor de 'fight tonight'. Als gevolg daarvan werd beslist dat enkel die aankopen in aanmerking komen die VOLLEDIG geleverd worden ten laatste in 2030. Dat sluit heel wat nieuwe, grote projecten uit. Zeker omdat je het minimaal met 2 EU-landen en/of UKR of NOR moet doen. Dit is de voornaamste reden waarom er 20 miljard ongebruikt blijven.
3. En je koopt niet eender wat via een SAFE-lening. Minimaal 65% van de totale component kost moet van EU- (of UKR/NOR) origine zijn. Reden waarom onze Skyranger bijvoorbeeld niet onder SAFE vallen (want Rheinmetall Switzerland). En F-35 komt (nog) niet aan 65% Europese content 😉.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
👀
Premiering on select @IMAX screens and streaming this November, THE WATCH: America’s Nuclear Mission offers extraordinary access to the most important mission in world history.
No CGI. No AI. Ever.
With @usairforce + @AFGlobalStrike + @USNavy
StratCom Raoul retweeted
Replying to @aidefranceukr
Belgian F-16 are unique in that they all have been retrofitted with the Dassault Electronique KRP (initially Carapace) Radar Warning Receiver, to replace the standard AN/ALR-69.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
NEW | SPECIAL REPORT: Russian integration of inexpensive, highly maneuverable quasi-cruise missiles marks a concerning shift toward low-cost, cruise-missile-like weapons that can strain Ukraine’s scarce air defense stocks.
Russian quasi-cruise missiles pose an emerging threat that requires serious attention because these weapons bridge the gap between inexpensive and slow one-way attack drones and expensive cruise missiles, allowing Russia to impose additional pressure on Ukrainian air defenses at lower cost.
Russian developers are actively expanding production, improving speed and maneuverability, and diversifying launch platforms in an effort to increasingly deploy these weapons in 2027 before Ukraine can field countermeasures at scale. Ukraine and its partners therefore face a limited window to expand the production of low-cost interceptors, electronic warfare (EW), and layered air defenses able to handle cruise-missile-like air threats.
Been a while but I found a new nice patch, def not a A-109 fan but the Hirundo with TOW or AIM 9 has a special place in my heart
🇩🇪 Greetings to our German colleagues and all the people of #Germany on their Day of Unity!
Germany is driving #NATO's collective defence forward through modernized capabilities, robust air defence, and digital readiness. Thanks to these investments, Allied forces can communicate, operate, and act together more effectively than ever.
#TagderDeutschenEinheit
#WeAreNATO🤝@GermanyNATO
StratCom Raoul retweeted
Ukraine operates its F-16 fleet intensively and under demanding conditions. We have always recognized that sustaining these aircraft would be challenging, particularly because certain components for this early F-16 variant are no longer in production and are becoming increasingly difficult to source.
However, recent reports alleging catastrophically low aircraft availability rates and excessively long maintenance turnaround times are simply false.
Contrary to these claims, our industrial sustainment partners are not only continuing to deliver overhauled aircraft, but are doing so at an increasing pace. Turnaround times are decreasing, not increasing.
We have full confidence in our industry partners and their ability to further optimize sustainment processes, ensuring the highest possible levels of F-16 readiness and availability during the coming winter months, when these capabilities will be needed most.
Such reports should not undermine confidence in the international funding that supports F-16 sustainment efforts or question the continued need for additional F-16 aircraft from partner nations' inventories.
We should not allow misinformation to weaken this vital support. The modernization and sustainment of our F-16 fleet remain essential to Ukraine's ability to defend its airspace and protect its people.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
🇧🇪 🇺🇦 She used to help people after natural disasters. Now she helps stop Russian drones before they reach them.
Ani came to Ukraine from Belgium as a humanitarian volunteer. Then she joined the 37th Marine Brigade — becoming one of its first foreign women.
Even an above-the-knee amputation did not end her service.
Today, callsign “Xena” serves in an air-defense unit and is training to operate interceptor drones.
Same mission: protect people. Different tools. Different war.
#Ukraine #UkrainianMarines #DroneWarfare #AirDefense #UkrainianDefenders
StratCom Raoul retweeted
Future Belgium navy CASTOR Class P 903 BNS VEGA in shipyard SOCRENAM , Boulogne-sur-Mer.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
Om de 2 jaar onderzoekt Defensie hoe de 🇧🇪 bevolking naar de organisatie en haar rol als werkgever kijkt. Voor het eerst sinds de start van de metingen in 2017 is de algemene perceptie van Defensie duidelijk verbeterd mil.be/nl/news/bedankt-voor-…
StratCom Raoul retweeted
Sabena Engineering - een van de parels aan de kroon van onze eigen defensie industrie - wordt internationaal door het slijk gehaald. Wie hierachter zit is onduidelijk, maar er klopt niets van. Ze komen asap met een statement.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
I have decided to delete this tweet and retract my claims after being contacted by persons with knowledge on the matter who pointed out that I made several serious mistakes in it.
That a Phase Inspection (which includes replacing wear components) takes 40 weeks is still incorrect, with no one being sure where such a claim could have originated from.
Sabena Engineering, not Technics as I originally claimed, runs a vastly larger F-16 sustainment operation than I was aware of, as they also maintain all USAF F-16s based in Europe, the Middle East, and even some from the continental United States.
StratCom Raoul retweeted
NSPA has issued a Future Business Opportunity for:
"4 SAR Helicopters and related comprehensive In-Service Support package for the Belgian Air Force"
The FBO states the following:
"The Belgian Air Force aims to build the capability to perform SAR and HEMS missions with a newly procured super medium helicopter (4 units). The requirement includes the initial/recurrent training for the crews (pilots and operators) and the technical and logistic support linked to a specified fleet availability (outsourcing CAMO activities together with line and base maintenance).
· Location Koksijde, Belgium
· Estimated Period of Performance: 5 years (10 if applicable)
The helicopter shall be provided with all the medical equipment necessary to perform SAR/HEMS operations. Furthermore, the logistic support (spare parts provision) shall not follow a time/material approach but rather a fleet availability target covering all the equipment and services needed to perform the operations. The date of the first delivery shall not exceed 6 months from contract award.
In addition, the Belgian Air Force aims to lease one helicopter of the same type to be procured, to deliver the SAR mission prior to entry into service of the procured helicopters."
The date for Request for Proposals phase is set for the 16th of July of 2027











































