The Belgian Land Component has officially joined the ranks of users of the Akeron MP anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), as declared by the Belgian Ministry of Defence in response to a parliamentary inquiry. With the procurement now confirmed, the initial batch of these cutting-edge missiles is scheduled for delivery by the concerned manufacturer, the MBDA Group, by 2026. Formally contracted last year, the value of this agreement, which encompasses 761 missiles, remains undisclosed. The formal notification had not been issued as of mid-October 2022. Belgium thus followed in the footsteps of its neighbor, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which procured 90 units during the summer and became the inaugural export customer within the NATO alliance.
The Belgian Ministry of Defence acquisition of the Akeron MP comes as no surprise. The missile represents a pivotal capability in the ongoing collaboration between the Belgian Land Component and the French Army through the bilateral partnership known as CaMo, which has been progressing over the past five years. Additionally, the missile played a central role in the European LYNKEUS project, a joint effort led by France, Belgium, and Cyprus, aimed at advancing the “beyond line-of-sight” firing capability. This initiative continues with MARSEUS and now includes a fourth partner, Sweden. The Belgian Defense is anticipated to receive an initial batch by late 2025, with operational deployment set to commence in 2026 across all configurations.
The first battalion is earmarked for conversion in 2026 and is projected to achieve initial operational capacity by 2027, coinciding with the Belgian Land Component’s goal of establishing the deployable SCORPION inter-arm tactical sub-group. Additional deliveries are slated for the periods of 2026-2027 and 2028-2029, each contributing to the ongoing transformation of the motorized brigade into a SCORPION force. This process is set to accelerate from 2025 onward, with the introduction of the VBMR Griffon armoured personnel carriers, followed by the EBRC Jaguar armored reconnaissance and combat vehicles a year later. As Belgium solidifies its position as a proficient operator of advanced anti-tank missile systems, the Akeron MP stands poised to bolster the nation’s defense capabilities in the evolving landscape of modern warfare.
The Akeron MP (Akeron Moyenne Portée), formerly known as MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée; English: Medium-Range Missile), is a French fifth generation, network-enabled, anti-tank guided missile system. Featuring both fire-and-forget and command guidance operating modes, it also integrates third party target designation for indirect firing scenarios through its lock-on after launch capability for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) use. Entering French service from 2017 onwards, the Akeron MP was developed by MBDA France and is intended as a replacement for the MILAN and American-made FGM-148 Javelin. It is designed for dismounted infantry (being man-portable) as well as for integration on combat vehicles and has a firing range of up to 5 km.
