On Monday morning, Luxembourg’s new Chief of Defence, General Claude Robinet, outlined his vision for the army’s future and stressed the need for fresh talent.
Robinet, who took over as Chief of Defence last week, said his motto "Let’s Do It – Army" is guided by four pillars: diversification, operational capability, integrity, and technology.
The army needs new skill sets and diverse personnel profiles to develop its capabilities, but it must also uphold its core values and culture as it grows. Integrating new capabilities, Robinet said, requires a particular focus on integrity.
Robinet described maintaining readiness as an ongoing task that requires more than daily training. Doctrines, organisational structures, equipment, and, crucially, infrastructure must all be continually developed and kept in sync to ensure the army can fulfil its missions.
At present, he admitted, Luxembourg’s military infrastructure is lagging behind. It takes the army a "relatively long time", as it is faster at procuring equipment and delivering training.
However, "all of this has to go hand in hand", according to him. If the army cannot house personnel or store equipment, then they have a problem.
Ammunition is also a key factor in the army’s operational capability. Robinet referenced pending ammunition legislation, warning that without the right stockpiles, newly acquired vehicles cannot be used to their full potential.
Asked about the idea of a Luxembourgish defence industry, Robinet said the country has a role to play in European defence, but does not have to manufacture weapons itself.
Local companies are already active as suppliers for larger defence firms. Participation in European supply chains, he argued, can boost resilience and strengthen Europe’s defence capabilities overall. "Defence does not work without industry", Robinet stated.
On the army’s role as observer in the recent drone incidents at Findel Airport, Robinet declined to judge, noting he was not directly involved.
However, he stressed that drones do not recognise physical or institutional borders, so ministries and administrations must work closely together to address these threats.
If a drone is deemed hostile, it must first be detected and identified before any action is taken. Only after assessing the threat can a response be decided upon, taking into account existing rules, orders, and the potential for collateral damage.
The army’s first obligation is to protect its own military infrastructure. When it comes to other critical sites, such as the airport, the army plays a supporting role to the relevant civilian authorities.
Air defence needs to be understood as a multi-layered system, Robinet explained, stretching from ground level to high altitudes. Every NATO country, including Luxembourg, has a responsibility to contribute.
Protection of personnel and equipment on the ground is already being addressed, but Luxembourg’s army still lacks experience in building up air and missile defence.
Robinet is counting on cooperation with partner countries: a study is already underway, after which concepts must be developed, equipment procured, and staff trained.
The chosen system must be compatible with those used by allies. Achieving operational capability, he said, will take several years. Long delivery times for equipment and ammunition, as well as complex technical requirements, also mean the army needs to recruit the right specialist profiles.
The joint Luxembourg-Belgium combat battalion is expected to bring more mobility, firepower, and protection. In addition to the headquarters at Herrenberg in Diekirch, there will be a command post in Arlon (Belgium) and logistics infrastructure in Sanem, southern Luxembourg.
This division of sites, Robinet noted, will help distribute jobs throughout the country and increase the army’s appeal. Equipment for the binational battalion is scheduled for delivery in 2028, with the first soldiers beginning training immediately.
However, Robinet warned, this equipment will require appropriate storage to meet security standards, which puts further pressure on infrastructure, which remains the army’s greatest challenge.
