Belgium is strongly committed to modernising its air force to ensure national security, strengthen European cooperation and guarantee NATO interoperability. Defence therefore purchased 34 F‑35 aircraft, based at Florennes and Kleine Brogel.

To plan, prepare and support F‑35 missions at external locations, Defence wanted to expand its capacity with Deployable Operating Bases (DOBs). This high‑tech infrastructure had to be compact, transportable and comply with the strictest security standards.

In this project Arcadis supported the Belgian technology company Automation, specialised in containerized & prefabricated datacentres and critical infrastructure, in developing their innovative container design for defence applications.

Arcadis helped Automation to present, in just a few months, a scalable and functional concept fully aligned with the requirements of Defence, Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office. A design that meets all military and technical requirements while remaining practically feasible within constraints of scale, material choice and weight.

On 30th January 2026 the first set of the new deployable containers was delivered and installed at Florennes. This delivery is part of the broader modernisation of the Air Force. The F‑35 purchase entails much more than the aircraft alone: it is a complete combat system, including supporting infrastructure, logistics, maintenance and training.

As determined in the Defense Strategic Vision 2025, this capacity will be further expanded in the near future. This project also demonstrates once again that the F-35 program not only delivers military capabilities, but also tangible economic value for Belgium, including through industrial orders, technological development, and high-quality employment.