80th UAV Squadron (Belgium) explained

Unit Name:80th UAV Squadron
Dates:1 July 2004
Country: Belgium
Branch:Air Component
Role:UAV Reconnaissance
Size:120 personnel
Motto:Age Quod Agis (Do well what you do)
Garrison:Florennes
Equipment:9B SkyGuardian (from 2021)

The 80th UAV Squadron (French: 80 UAV<sup>e</sup> escadrille, Dutch; Flemish: 80 UAV<sup>ste</sup> Smaldeel) is a squadron in the Air Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. It is dedicated to unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs. The squadron got its name in recognition of the 80th Artillery Battalion of the Belgian Army, which, in its day, was tasked with locating and identifying enemy positions and targets. As of 2021, the unit will commence operations with two 9B SkyGuardians in the aerial reconnaissance role; by 2031, the squadron will operate a total of four to six MQ-9B SkyGuardians, which replaced the IAI B-Hunter in service from 2004 to 2020.

Mission

The 80th UAV Squadron's mission is real-time aerial reconnaissance, surveillance, visual intelligence gathering to support the Belgium Armed Forces, and other departments within the framework of aid to the nation, such as surveillance of territorial waters, forest fires, agriculture, border surveillance, fighting against organized crime, collecting information, and providing support to units of the Belgium Armed Forces.

Deployments

Operations in Belgian territory:

Organisation

80th UAV Squadron consists of: