Belgium orders 5 Cessna 408 SkyCourier utility aircraft from the US for special operations.

Belgium has approved the acquisition of five Cessna 408 SkyCourier aircraft for special operations within the STAR program.

On January 30, 2026, VRT News reported that Belgium had approved the acquisition of five Cessna 408 SkyCourier light utility aircraft under the STAR program to support special operations missions. The Skycouriers will be procured as commercial airframes in the United States and converted in Belgium to address short-runway access limitations following the retirement of the C-130 fleet and its replacement by the Airbus A400M.
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The Cessna 408 SkyCourier was launched in November 2017 following a specific requirement from FedEx Express for a new utility aircraft capable of carrying standard LD3 containers while remaining within the 19-seat regulatory category. (Picture source: Cessna)

These utility aircraft will be procured as commercial airframes built in the United States and then converted in Belgium into military-configured aircraft for special units. This decision follows several years of planning aimed at restoring a light fixed-wing capability able to operate from short and austere runways. The requirement became more acute after the retirement of the C-130 fleet and its replacement by the Airbus A400M, which requires longer runways. The SkyCourier is intended to support time-sensitive missions where access is constrained. The program increases the initially envisaged fleet size from four to five aircraft.

The operational need is directly linked to runway limitations associated with the A400M, which cannot routinely land on short strips or grass fields. Belgian planners identified the need for an aircraft capable of operating from very short and minimally prepared runways to support special operations missions. Planned mission profiles include insertion and extraction of special units, medical evacuation of wounded personnel, and evacuation of civilians or diplomatic staff during crises. These missions require rapid access, limited ground infrastructure, and flexible interior arrangements. The SkyCourier is positioned as a light fixed-wing asset filling the gap between helicopters and larger transport aircraft. Its role is to complement existing air mobility assets rather than replace them.

The aircraft will be delivered in standard commercial configuration and modified domestically by Sonaca and Sabena Technics. In terms of cost, the Cessna 408 SkyCourier has a unit price of about €6.5 million before conversion and mission equipment. In parallel, Belgian authorities indicated that a funding envelope of €322.3 million is planned for 2026 to support the acquisition and adaptation of these special operations aircraft. The conversion work includes the integration of additional sensors, such as camera systems and mission equipment required for observation, signals intelligence support, medical evacuation, and special operations. The separation between commercial acquisition and domestic military conversion allows customization to Belgian requirements, but also anchors part of the program’s value within the national aerospace industry.

Operational planning foresees the creation of a dedicated Special Operations Squadron based at Beauvechain Air Base. The planning objective is to maintain two aircraft available at any given time, supported by trained crews and maintenance personnel. Initial operational capability is targeted for the 2028 to 2029 timeframe, reflecting the time needed for conversion, training, and integration. The SkyCourier acquisition is part of a broader investment in special operations aviation, alongside the introduction of Airbus H145M helicopters. Longer-term plans also include medium and heavy transport helicopter procurement, as Belgium’s earlier decision to retire the NH90-TTH fleet reshaped its Air Force planning.

Textron Aviation launched the Cessna 408 SkyCourier in November 2017 following a requirement formulated in close cooperation with FedEx Express, which sought a new-generation utility aircraft to modernize its feeder fleet, and available in both passenger and cargo configurations. The objective was to create an aircraft larger than the Cessna 208 Caravan, specifically capable of carrying standard LD3 containers while remaining compliant within the 19-seat regulatory category. The first flight took place on May 17, 2020, after several years of design and ground validation work. Type certification was obtained in March 2022, allowing deliveries to begin shortly thereafter. FedEx became the launch customer, placing an initial firm order for 50 aircraft with options for additional units. Commercial service started in 2022, initially focused on cargo operations. Government and military interest followed later, with Jamaica and then Belgium placing the first military orders in January 2026.

The Cessna 408 SkyCourier was conceived as a high-wing, twin-turboprop aircraft optimized for utility, cargo, and regional transport missions. Its high-wing configuration provides ground clearance for the propellers and facilitates loading operations, while reducing the risk of debris ingestion on unpaved or semi-prepared runways. The fixed landing gear reduces mechanical complexity and maintenance demands while improving robustness during repeated short-field operations. The SkyCourier was designed from the outset to accommodate different internal layouts, including passenger, cargo, and combi configurations. A large rear cargo door and flat cabin floor allow efficient loading of bulky cargo or standardized containers. This flexibility enables operators to adapt the aircraft to logistics, passenger transport, or mixed missions without structural changes.

Another factor behind the SkyCourier’s adoption is its balance between payload, volume, and operating economics within the 19-seat category. Built primarily from aluminum alloys, the airframe can carry up to three LD3 containers or up to 6,000 lb (about 2,700 kg) of cargo in its freighter configuration, exceeding the capacity of many aircraft in the same category. For passenger operations, the cabin can seat up to 19 occupants, keeping it below regulatory thresholds that would require additional cabin crew. The non-pressurized cabin limits cruise altitude but simplifies the airframe and reduces acquisition and operating costs compared to pressurized regional aircraft. Passenger seats and interior fittings can be removed, enabling operators to switch between passenger and cargo roles within a short time. This combination of capacity and simplicity, as well as its suitability for short runways, has made the SkyCourier attractive to logistics companies, regional operators, and government users.

In terms of performance, the Cessna 408 SkyCourier has a maximum takeoff weight of about 8,600 kg and is powered by two Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines rated at 1,100 shp each. Maximum cruise speed is 210 knots, or about 390 km/h, while maximum ferry range reaches approximately 1,700 km depending on configuration. The aircraft can operate at altitudes up to 25,000 ft and requires a takeoff distance of roughly 1,100 m, supporting short-field operations. The structure is primarily aluminum, and avionics are centered on the Garmin G1000 NXi suite. Finally, in terms of size, the SkyCourier has an overall length of 16.8 m, a wingspan of 22.0 m, and a height of roughly 6.3 m. For its part, the cabin measures approximately 7.1 m in length, 1.9 m in width, and about 1.8 m in height, dimensions that allow both stand-up access inside the cabin and accommodation of standard LD3 containers in the cargo configuration.

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.