Potential candidates for Belgium’s heavy transport helicopter program include the Boeing CH-47F Chinook and the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion

The acquisition is budgeted at 1.289 billion euros, with the first year of financial engagement scheduled for 2033, and is linked to the Special Operations portfolio under the category “SO Air Task Unit – Medium/Heavy Transport Helicopters

Reports from the Belgian Air Component note that the NH90 TTH had only one overseas deployment in Mali in 2018 under MINUSMA, and cost per flight hour estimates were cited at 10,000 to 15,000 euros, higher than the F-16 in certain cases. Belgium has opted to withdraw the NH90 TTHs entirely and join a multinational NH90 support contract with France and Germany to cover remaining needs until retirement