Tuesday is Belgium’s national day and King Filip and Queen Mathilde are being joined by dignitaries at the military and civil parade in the Brussels downtown.
During the parade, Belgian military personnel, police and firefighters march through the streets of Brussels.
This year, special attention is being paid to a double anniversary at the Ministry of Defence: the 80th anniversary of the Air Force and the 80th anniversary of the Navy. A special detachment, comprising exclusively veterans from both services, is taking part in the military parade.
This year, the new F-35 fighter-jet is also part of the parade for the first time. This is the Belgian Armed Forces’ most modern fighter-jet. Drones are on display too. And, for the first time, a Ukrainian detachment is marching in the parade.
In the civil parade, vehicles from the Civil Protection service are taking part to commemorate the aid they brought to the severe floods in Wallonia five years ago. The Civil Protection service is deployed in the event of national disasters.
One of the most spectacular sights during Tuesday’s parade was an attempt to foil a drone attack. The attack was simulated metres from King Filip.
Students of the Royal Military Academy are also part of the show.
Guests gathered early eager to miss nothing.
During the fly-past that included helicopters and F-35 fighter-jets a British Spitfire was spotted among the historic aircraft
Ukrainian soldiers were welcomed to the streets of Brussels for the first time.
Ahead of the parade King Filip, who is a 4 star general, inspected the troops.
The Belgian armed forces are also equipped with drones.
