Last week, the Belgian government approved the purchase and delivery of 105mm ammunition to Ukraine for 32 million euros. According to RTBF, now the Belgian Council of Ministers has approved the 15th aid package for Ukraine worth 11 million euros. It includes an undisclosed number of M113 tracked armored personnel carriers. These vehicles were taken out of service by the Belgian Army more than ten years ago and will be refurbished by Belgian industry before being delivered to Ukraine.
The military aid provided by Belgium is part of the coordination between the Allies in the Ukraine Contact Group and aims to address specific requests made by Ukraine.
"Support for Ukraine is not a competition between partner countries, but the result of a coherent approach aimed at best meeting needs on the ground. This new aid package is fully in line with this logic", added Ludivine Dedonder.
As of 2010, Belgium had about 747 M113s in various variants. It was previously reported that Belgium had transferred 46 M113A1s to Ukraine.
M113 APC
The M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) is a tracked armored vehicle that has been widely used by various armed forces around the world. It was developed by the United States in the 1960s and has since become one of the most widely produced and versatile armored vehicles in history.
The APC is designed to transport infantry and provide them with protection from small arms fire, artillery fragments, and other battlefield threats. It has a crew of two or three and can carry up to 11 fully equipped soldiers. The vehicle features an aluminum hull, which provides a good balance between mobility and protection.
The M113 has been used in a variety of roles, including personnel carrier, command vehicle, mortar carrier, ambulance, and anti-tank missile carrier, among others. Its modular design allows for easy adaptation and customization to suit different mission requirements.
Over the years, many variants and upgrades have been developed for the M113, incorporating improved armor, weapon systems, and other enhancements. Despite its age, the M113 APC remains in service with numerous countries and has seen combat in various conflicts worldwide.
