Belgium selects Cessna/Textron 408 Skycourier for SOF air

nils · Post by **nils** » 30 Jan 2026, 19:43

although no official announcement is out yet, apparently Belgium has ordered 5 Cessna/Textron 408 Skycouriers to meet its requirement for a STOL light transport aircraft for Special Forces air operations.
i think this makes Belgium the first Military customer for the type.

nils · Post by **nils** » 31 Jan 2026, 21:31

its oficial (well, nearly), there iare still some irregularities in the deal.
DHC has apparently filed opposition to the deal, so the DHC Twin Otter is (likely) still in the race.

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/01/30 ... -eenheden/

Canberra TT.18 · Post by **Canberra TT.18** » 08 Apr 2026, 12:29

https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/de ... skycourier

Looks offical now.

SquAdmin · Post by **SquAdmin** » 08 Apr 2026, 13:05

I sincerely hope they will paint it exactly like that.

Bunzing · Post by **Bunzing** » 11 Apr 2026, 15:01

Typical that Belgium keeps being mentioned as the first military customer, while Thailand and Jamaica have each ordered two C408s for their armed forces before the Belgian order.

michel N · Post by **michel N** » 11 Apr 2026, 15:16

Bunzing wrote: 11 Apr 2026, 15:01 Typical that Belgium keeps being mentioned as the first military customer, while Thailand and Jamaica have each ordered two C408s for their armed forces before the Belgian order.

Thailand ordered them for KASET, the Forestry Department. Might sound less military than the Special Forces of Belgium. For Jamaica there’s no firm order yet, I think? Only FMS approval.

Scramble Messageboard