Belgium has ordered five Cessna SkyCourier turboprops for its Special Operations Forces, becoming the first European military customer for the twin-engine utility aircraft.
Textron Aviation announced the contract on April 7, 2026, describing the selection as the SkyCourier’s “launch into the global defense market”. The aircraft will support troop transport, logistics, casualty evacuation, and crisis response missions.
A decade-long requirement
The order has roots stretching back nearly a decade. Belgium’s 2016 “Vision stratégique” defense white paper first outlined the need for STOL-capable light aircraft to support special forces insertions, extractions, and resupply. The requirement initially called for four aircraft, but that number grew to five by the time a procurement decision was reached in late 2025 under the SOA-FW (Special Operations Aviation, Fixed Wing) component of Belgium’s broader defense modernization program.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced a budget of €322.3 million($347 million) for the program on December 24, 2025. The envelope covers the aircraft themselves, full pilot and technician training, requalification of maintenance personnel, and four years of spare parts and support. The SkyCouriers will be operated by the Belgian Air Force from Beauvechain Air Base in central Belgium, with the unit expected to reach operational capability in 2029.
What the SkyCourier brings
The SkyCourier is a high-wing turboprop powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC engines. It is equipped with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 knots and a range of 900 nautical miles. In its freighter configuration, the aircraft can carry up to three LD3 containers with a 6,000-pound payload. The passenger variant seats up to 19.
First flown in May 2020 and certified by the FAA in March 2022, the SkyCourier was originally developed around an order from FedEx Express for up to 100 freighter variants. Since then, the type has expanded into passenger, combi and gravel-kit configurations, with operators ranging from Alaskan bush carrier Everts Air to Air Marshall Islands and Mongolia’s Hunnu Air. The aircraft has also received certification in Canada and the Philippines.
In January 2026, Jamaica became the first military customer to order the SkyCourier, securing two units through the US Foreign Military Sales system for the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing to use for tactical transport. Additionally, Bulgaria and Slovenia are reportedly considering the aircraft as well.
An unexpected selection
The SkyCourier was not the expected choice. Belgian press reporting in 2025 had pointed to the Pilatus PC-12 as the frontrunner, while other candidates included the PZL M-28 Skytruck, the De Havilland Canada Twin Otter 400, and the L-410NG. The selection was seen as a surprise, given the availability of European alternatives.
“The SkyCourier’s combination of rugged performance, low operating cost and the ability to operate from short and unimproved runways makes it a powerful solution for customers who need dependable lift in unpredictable environments,” said Travis Tyler, President and CEO of Textron Aviation Defense.
Belgian industry to handle mission conversion
The Belgian aircraft will not go into service as delivered from the Wichita production line. Sabena Engineering, together with airframe manufacturer Sonaca, will modify and certify the five SkyCouriers into mission-ready platforms tailored for special forces operations.
Sabena Engineering already supports Belgian Defense across several programs, including F-35 fleet readiness preparations, MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned systems maintenance, and PC-7 MKX pilot training modernization with Pilatus.
The SkyCourier fleet will join the H145M helicopters that Belgium has ordered from Airbus Helicopters for the same base. Since May 2024, Belgium has ordered 22 H145Ms for the armed forces and federal police, with the first deliveries to Beauvechain expected in April 2026.
New in-flight operable door option
Also on April 7, 2026, Textron made a second SkyCourier-related announcement, revealing a new in-flight operable door option for the passenger variant at the FIDAE Air Show in Santiago, Chile. The modification, built within the cargo door, would allow paratroopers to deploy and supplies to be airdropped while in flight. Textron expects the option to be available as a factory-installed feature starting in 2028, a timeline that aligns with Belgium’s planned operational schedule.
