Nearly all of the Belgian army’s Piranha armoured vehicles have developed cracks, the Defence ministry confirmed on Wednesday following a report by Het Laatste Nieuws. Despite this, the vehicles can still be used.
Earlier on Wednesday, Het Laatste Nieuws reported that most of the 127 Piranha vehicles are out of order due to chassis cracks, leaving the army without rapid and secure transport for troops over difficult terrain. The Piranha, made by Swiss manufacturer Mowag, has been in service with the Belgian army since 2008.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed cracks in “virtually all vehicles, to varying degrees,” but noted that these can be repaired, with most repairs possible within Belgium by the manufacturer.
The ministry denied that the army lacks secure transport for its troops. “Some vehicles can continue to be used without restrictions and have already been put back into service. Others can be used with certain limitations,” a spokesperson stated. Precise figures were not disclosed for operational security reasons.
The ministry also assured that the cracks do not compromise the vehicles’ protection or firepower. The manufacturer guarantees anti-mine protection regardless of the cracks’ nature. “The Piranha remains usable. If necessary, its deployment in overseas operations could be supported by another combat vehicle, such as the Dingo,” the ministry added.
Belgium has already ordered successors to the Piranha, with delivery expected by the end of 2026.
N-VA MP Theo Francken criticised past decisions by the francophone Socialist Party, particularly the acquisition of the armoured vehicles in the early 2000s under André Flahaut’s mandate. “The choice of the Piranha DF90 was imposed despite its non-standard 90-millimetre calibre in NATO. Moreover, the Finance Inspection twice rejected this purchase because Mecar, based in Nivelles – Mr Flahaut’s hometown – was the sole possible supplier for the ammunition,” Francken stated.
He concluded that the cracks will undeniably impact the operational capacity of the land forces. “We face a two-year deficit during which our only motorised brigade will have reduced mobility and firepower. This is not the message we want to send to our allies, especially as our commitment to reach the 2% GDP for Defence is under scrutiny.”
