Analysis Belgium army parade 21 July 2018 armored and combat vehicles review.

Army Recognition editorial team with its Online Defense and Security Web TV news channel was in Peutie military barracks to cover the military parade rehearsal for the Belgian National Day of July 21, 2018. Every year, Belgium’s national day is celebrated with a whole range of activities including a military parade of Belgium armed forces, police, civil defense and emergency services in the center of Brussels.

Army Recognition team with its Online Defense and Security Web TV news channel covers rehearsal of Belgian army military parade for National Day 21 July 2018. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The traditional military and civilian parade will take place on Paleizenplein/Place des Palais starting at 4 p.m 21 July 2018. This year, the theme is ‘Respect for the past. Trust in the future.’

On the occasion of the centenary commemoration of the end of the First World War, the parade will include a historical element (clothing and equipment from the past). Foreign delegations will also take part, demonstrating their partnerships with Belgium.

Lynx also called LMV Light Multirole Vehicle, the standard armored tactical vehicle used by Belgian army. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Belgian military parade for the Naional Day of 21 July 2018 will start with three Lynx also called LMV, (Light Multirole Vehicle) is a 4x4 tactical vehicle developed by Iveco, and in service with several countries. The vehicle can carry four military personnel with driver and commander at the front and two more soldiers at the rear . it offers protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters.

This is the standard tactical armored vehicle in service with the Belgian army.

VPC Command Post armored vehicle of French army (Picture source Army Recognition)

This year French army will be part of the parade with one Command post wheeled armored vehicle version of the VBCI (Véhicule blindé de combat d'infanterie - Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle) in the French Army nicknamed VPC.

The VPC is based on the standard version of the VBCI, but armed with one remotely operated weapon station armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

Standard equipment of the VPC includes a terminal information system (SIT) FINDERS®, developed by Nexter Systems, a regimental information system (SIR), developed by EADS. It has a crew of seven including driver, commander, gunner and 4 soldiers.

VBCI 8x8 armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle of French army (Picture source Army Recognition)

The VPC is followed by tow VBCI's, (Véhicule blindé de combat d'infanterie - Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle) from the French army (Which unit ?) . The VBCI is a French wheeled armoured infantry fighting vehicle designed and manufactured by the French Companies Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense.

The VBCI is a French-made wheeled armoured IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle designed and manufactured by the French Companies Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense.

The VBCI in the French Army is equipped with a one-man Nexter Dragar turret armed with a dual feed 25mm NATO cannon type 25 M811 with 150 rounds in the turret and one Belgian FN Herstal coaxial 7.62mm machine gun MAG.

Lynx 4x4 SPS Self-Protection System 4x4 armored vehicle of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

Another version of the Lynx (LMV) is the Lynx SPX SPS (Self-Protection System) , a 4x4 armoured vehicle used by the infantry units of the Belgian army, fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with one 7.62mm machine gun. The vehicle can carry four military personnel.

Piranha IIIC DF-90 Fire support with 90mm cannon of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

One Piranha IIIC DF 90 from the future armored brigade. The DF-90 is a fire support vehicle based on the a Piranha IIIC wheeled armoured chassis.

The vehicle is fitted with a Belgian CMI two-man turret armed with a Cockerill LCTS 90mm cannon. It can fire at a maximum range of 2.2 km. The vehicle has a crew of three including driver, commander and gunner. 18 vehicles are in service with the Belgian army.

 
Piranha DF-30 IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle 8x8 armored with 30mm cannon of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

One Piranha IIIC DF 30 used by infantry units of the future armored brigade. The DF-30 is an infantry fighting vehicle also based on Piranha IIIC wheeled armoured chassis that can carry 6 military personnel. This vehicle is armed with a 30mm cannon remotely operated weapon station.

Piranha IIIC APC Armored Personnel Carrier vehicle of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

Two Piranha IIIC APC. The Piranha IIIC Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) is mainly used by infantry unit of armoured brigade. The vehicle can carry a total of 10 military personnel including driver, commander, gunner and 7 infantrymen. It is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station mounted on the roof of the vehicle which is armed with a 12.7mm M2 heavy machine gun.

Dingo 2 4x4 APC Armored Personnel Carrier vehicle of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

Two Dingo 2 4x4 armored vehicles personnel carrier (APC). The Dingo 2 also called MPPV (Multi-Purpose Protected Vehicle) in the Belgian army, is a 4x4 armored personnel carrier which is in service with the light infantry units.
The vehicle is manufactured by the German Company KMW.

The vehicle is based on the German-made Unimog 5000 light truck chassis. The vehicle provides high level of protection against ballistic and mine threats. In the Belgian Army, the vehicle is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station which can be armed with a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun.

Pandur 1 6x6 armored vehicle used by reconnaissance unit of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

The reconnaissance units of the Belgian army parades with one Lynx (LMV) followed  by two Pandur 1. The Pandur 1 is a 6x6 armoured vehicle used by reconnaissance units of Belgium army . The vehicle was developed by the Austrian Company Steyr-Daimler-Puch now part of General Dynamics European Land System.

The rear part of the vehicle is fitted a telescopic mast with optics to perform observation of the battlefield. The vehicle has a one-man open top turret armed with a 12.7mm machine gun.

Unimog 4x4 light tactical truck SCB Battlefield Surveillance Radar of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

One Unimog SCB also used by reconnaissance unit. The Unimog SCB (Surveillance Champ de Bataille - Battlefield Surveillance Radar) is 4x4 light tactical truck Unimog fitted with a radar EL/M-2130A mounted at the rear of the crew cab which is used for surveillance, identification and reconnaissance of the battlefield. It can detect people at a maximum range of 14 km and combat vehicles as main battle tanks at a maximum range of 33 km.

Dingo 2 PRV Protected Reconnaissance Vehicle of Luxembourg Army (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Army of Luxembourg is represented with two Dingo 2 PRV. The Dingo 2 PRV is intended to provide a full reconnaissance capability for the Luxembourg army, with a view to detecting, identifying and localizing potential threats or enemies (by day and by night), gathering just in-time data for situational awareness, sharing information with other operational uniting and accelerating decision-taking to support action.

The Dingo 2 PRV Protected Reconnaissance vehicle is equipped with Optronic Head (Margot 5000) with Thermal Imager, CCD camera and Laser Range Finder mounted on a 4 m telescopic mast locate at the rear of the vehicle. For its self-protection the vehicle is fitted with one Kongsberg’s Protector remotely-operated turret armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

Dutch Army Fennek reconnaissance 4x4 armored vehicle (Picture source army Recognition)

Dutch army also presents the Fennek, a reconnaissance armored vehicle operated by a three-man crew and deployed in units of two vehicles. A scout party equipped with this vehicle is able to operate independently for a period of up to five days. 

The Dutch reconnaissance vehicles are armed with a 12.7mm machine gun and two containers are mounted at the rear of the vehicle to carry PanzerFaust, a single-shot anti-tank weapon. The vehicle is also equipped with a Rheinmetall Defence Electronics BAA which comprises a thermal imager, a CCD day vision camera and a laser rangefinder and is installed in a sensor head mounted on an extendable mast.

FOX RRV Rapid Response Vehicle from the Special Forces Group of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Special Forces Group of the Belgian army presents two vehicles, the JACAM and the FOX RRV.

The FOX RRV (Rapid Reaction Vehicle) has recently entered in service with the Belgian, it will be used by the Special Forces Group but also by the new Special Operations Regiment.

The Fox Rapid Reaction Vehicle (RRV) is a of light tactical vehicles based on Toyota 4x4 chassis designed and manufactured by the British Company Jankel. In January 2016, Belgian armed forces have awarded a contract to the British Company Jankel for the delivery of 108 FOX Rapid Reaction Vehicles (RRV).

For the Belgian Army, the vehicle will be delivered in two variants named Command (48) & Liaison and Reconnaissance (60). The first variant will be armed with one 7.62mm mounted on swivel station fitted on the right side of the vehicle that can operated by the commander of the vehicle. The reconnaissance version has a ring mounted located on the superstructure of the vehicle that can be armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

JACAM light tactical truck from Special Forces Group of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

The second vehicle showed by Belgian Special at the military parade is the JACAM, a 4x4 light tactical truck base Unimog chassis especially designed to perform long-range reconnaissance missions. The vehicle is armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine gun and three 5.56 /7.62 mm machine gun mounted on swivel station located at the front and the rear of the chassis.

Mercedes sprinter of airborne engineer troops with trailer carrying Kayaks (Picture source Army Recognition)

The engineers from airborne troops at the Belgian military parade 2018 presents different types of vehicles including 1 Mercedes Sprinter light truck with trailer carrying Kayaks used by the Special Operations Regiment.

Second vehicle is an Unimog 4x4 light truck with trailer carrying Zodiac RHIB Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat

Dingo 2 4x4 armored of artillery unit towing one LG1 105mm light gun of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

In the field of artillery, Belgian army presents one mre time one Lynx (LMV) followed by two two Dingo 2 armoured vehicled towing one LG1 105mm light gun. The LG1 is a modern 105 mm towed howitzer designed and produced by GIAT Industries (now Nexter group) of France. It can fire at a maximum range of 19.5 km with a rate fire of 12 rounds per minute.

Unimog light 4x4 tactical truck towing one 120mm mortar of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

Second vehicle of artillery unit is an Unimog 4x4 light truck towing one 120mm RT F1 mortar designed by the French Company Thomson-Brandt. It has a firing range of 8,000 m with standard projectile and 12,850 m with rocket projectile.

Mercedes-Benz G Wagon 4x4 light tactical vehicle from the Dutch army towing one 120mm mortar (Picture source Army Recognition)

Dutch army is another foreign nation that participates to the Belgian military parade for National Day of 21 July 2018 with one Mercedes-Benz G G-Wagon 4x4 light tactical vehicle towing one 120mm mortar. The roof of the vehicle is fitted with a ring mount armed with one 7.62mm machine gun. 

Dingo 2 4x4 armoured vehicle of German army in PsyOps configuration (Picture source Army Recognition)

German army parades with two combat vehicles including the Dingo 2 PsyOps (Psychological Operations). The Psychological operations (PSYOP) are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals. 

The Dingo 2 offers protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters. It has a crew of four. The roof of the vehicle is fitted with a remote weapon station  FLW 100 armed with one MG3 7.62mm machine gun. The Vehicle-Mounted PSYOPS Loudspeaker Equipment will replace the short lightweight all-terrain loudspeaker team truck for loudspeaker equipment installation kit which has been used up to now.

Eagle IV 4x4 armoured vehicle of German army in CIMIC configuration (Picture source Army Recognition)

The second vehicle of the German army is an Eagle IV 4x4 armored vehicle from the German army, from CIMIC (Civil-Military Co-operation) unit. Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) is the means by which a military commander connects with civilian agencies active in a theatre of operations.

The Eagle IV is a wheeled armoured vehicle made by the Swiss Defense Company Mowag, now a subdivision of General Dynamics. The MOWAG Eagle IV was developed as a private venture. It has a crew of four and the roof of the vehicle is fitted with a remote weapon station  FLW 100 armed with one MG3 7.62mm machine gun.

IVECO trucks of Belgian army with fuel tank container (Picture source Army Recognition)

Support units of Belgian Army display different types of all-terrain military trucks including IVECO Astra and Euro Trakker truck with new fuel tank containers manufactured by the German Company WEW mounted at the rear of the chassis. 

This new support vehicle will provide the Belgian Army with a significant improvement in fuel delivery capability. After unloading the container the system can be operated independently using its autarkic diesel-driven pump.

Dingo 2 ambulance armored vehicle of Belgian army medical unit (Picture source Army Recognition)

The medical unit of Belgian army uses two types of ambulance armored vehicles, the first one is the Dingo 2 medical support vehicle using the same chassis that the Dingo 2 armored vehicle used by the light infantry unit, but the rear part of the vehicle is designed to carry wounded soldiers.

One of the most important tasks of paramedics on the battlefield, is to recover wounded soldiers as quickly as possible, ensuring first aid treatment and the following corresponding medical care. Under enemy fire, they often risk their own lives. In its different ambulance versions, the DINGO 2 makes a vital contribution to the improvement of the protected transport of wounded persons.

Piranha IIIC 8x8 armored vehicle in ambulance configuration used by medical unit of Belgian army (Picture source Army Recognition)

The second vehicle is the Piranha IIIC in ambulance version which is used to evacuate wounded soldiers from the battlefield under armour of the vehicle. The rear part of the vehicle can accommodate four stretchers or six seats.