Belgium chooses Pilatus PC-7 Mk.X
According to a number of major Belgian newspapers the Belgian Federal Cabinet has today, 7 November 2025, given the green light for the purchase of eighteen Pilatus PC-7 Mk.X trainers. These will replace the current Marchetti SF260, the last of which is planned to be phased out in 2027. The training on the new PC-7 Mk.X is expected to start in 2028.
The contract includes PC-7 simulators and the necessary infrastructural upgrades of Beauvechain, the homebase of the current Belgian SF260 fleet. Some twenty years of operational support is part of the package deal.
The sale is another succes for the Swiss Pilatus company, after selling the PC-7 Mk.X to the Netherlands and France.
In October 2024 the Dutch Ministry of Defence announced that they had awarded a contract to Pilatus for the delivery of eight PC-7 Mk.X aircraft plus two simulators to replace the current fleet of PC-7M trainers. Deliveries to the Dutch are scheduled from 2027.
On 10 January 2025, the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA, French Armament Agency) announced that it had awarded the "Mentor 2" contract to Babcock International France Aviation. This contract includes twenty-two Pilatus PC-7 Mk.X aircraft and twelve simulators, which will be deployed at Salon-de-Provence. The deliveries will also take place form 2027.
Credit photo: Pilatus