BRUSSELS, Feb. 25, 2026 : The Belgian Ministry of Defense has awarded a €161 million framework agreement to French defense manufacturer Etienne Lacroix Group for the supply of GALIX smoke grenades to the Belgian Armed Forces. The contract award was published on the European Union’s Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) platform under reference 128352-2026, listing Etienne Lacroix Tous Artifices as the successful bidder.
Under the terms of the framework agreement, Belgium can place orders for munitions over a defined period without reopening competition for each individual procurement. A first tranche valued at €23 million has already been called up, initiating production and delivery of the smoke grenades. The total estimated value of €161 million represents the maximum ceiling for potential supplies throughout the duration of the agreement.
Support for CaMo Modernization Program
The procurement is directly linked to Belgium’s Capacité Motorisée (CaMo) program, a strategic land forces modernization initiative conducted in partnership with France. Through the CaMo program, the Belgian Land Component is acquiring 382 VBMR Griffon multi-role armored vehicles and 60 EBRC Jaguar reconnaissance and combat vehicles to replace legacy platforms and standardize capabilities with the French Army.
The GALIX system serves as the primary passive self-protection suite for these incoming vehicles. It was co-developed by Etienne Lacroix Group and KNDS France, formerly known as Nexter. The system is integrated into the Griffon and Jaguar platforms as part of their baseline survivability architecture.
Local assembly of the Griffon vehicles has begun at a production facility in Staden, Belgium. Operational integration of the new mechanized fleet is scheduled to continue through 2031. The activation of the initial €23 million tranche ensures that the first vehicles entering service will be equipped with their designated defensive countermeasures.
GALIX System Characteristics and Function
GALIX is a vehicle-mounted, multi-purpose passive self-defense system designed for armored land platforms, including main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers. The system consists of mortar-like launchers integrated into a vehicle’s chassis or turret, capable of firing 80mm grenades in rapid salvos.
When linked to onboard threat detection systems, GALIX can respond automatically to hostile actions. Upon detection of a laser rangefinder, laser designator, anti-tank guided missile, or other targeting system, the fire control unit calculates the direction of the threat and deploys smoke grenades accordingly.
Typically using GALIX 13 or comparable multi-spectral combat smoke munitions, the system generates a dense smoke screen approximately 20 meters from the vehicle within one second of firing. The obscurant is designed to disrupt visual observation, laser targeting systems, night vision devices, and thermal imaging sensors across multiple infrared bands. By degrading an adversary’s targeting capability, the system provides time and space for evasive maneuver or repositioning.
Long-Term Supply Framework
The framework agreement establishes a long-term supply mechanism aligned with Belgium’s phased vehicle deliveries under the CaMo program. By securing the contract ceiling of €161 million, the Ministry of Defense ensures availability of sufficient munitions stocks to support training, operational deployment, and lifecycle requirements for the Griffon and Jaguar fleets.
Etienne Lacroix Group, headquartered in France, specializes in pyrotechnic countermeasures, decoys, and self-protection systems for land, air, and naval platforms. The company designs and manufactures the GALIX family of launchers and associated munitions and operates production facilities in France. It has supplied similar systems to several NATO member states and maintains international partnerships for defense exports.
The award forms part of Belgium’s broader land forces modernization efforts, which include enhancements to both active and passive protection systems as new armored platforms enter service.
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