© Luc Rollmann / RTL
The government has announced the purchase of 59 new military vehicles as part of its plan to upgrade the Belgo-Luxembourg battalion by 2030.
In addition to the 59 new military vehicles, the government also acquired logistical vehicles, such lorries and wagons for transport. A historic investment of 2.6 billion euros.
Defence Minister Yuricko Backes comments that it is "... an investment that was laid out in the coalition agreement and therefore cannot be ignored."
"NATO is modernising to meet the new threats. Each country must defend itself, but we can also strengthen our collective defence, and Luxembourg must also do its part."
The Defence Minister recognises a paradigm shift, and believes that NATO is now more than just a peacekeeping mission, as it now also needs to learn to defend its own territory. For Luxembourg, this means that it also has to adapt.
Similarly, General Steve Thull speaks of a big shift in defence strategy.
"The purpose of this acquisition is to switch from light combat reconnaissance to medium combat reconnaissance. That's exactly why the quality of the vehicles has to increase; as until now, we have had vehicles weighing up to 10 tonnes, but these new vehicles will weigh up to 25 tonnes."
Considering the sheer increase in size and weight, it will become more difficult to transport them. Only one vehicle would fit in an A400M military aircraft, for instance, which is why lorries and transport wagons were also purchased.
With these new vehicles taking up to 3 metres in width, training will also become tricker, as they take up half the road in Luxembourg. Another reminder of why cooperation with Belgium and France is essential to also benefit from their training grounds, says Steve Thull.
