Belgium has awarded Textron Aviation a contract to procure five Cessna SkyCouriers, marking the aircraft’s first military order.
Deliveries will take place throughout 2027 to Sabena Engineering, the Belgian military’s long-standing maintenance, repair, and overhaul partner.
Sabena will handle mission-specific integration and certification before handing the high-wing utility turboprops over to the Belgian Special Operations Forces.
“This first military selection signals strong armed service interest in the Cessna SkyCourier and underscores its readiness for high‑consequence missions,” said Travis Tyler, Textron Aviation Defense President and CEO.
SkyCourier Capabilities
Able to operate from short and unpaved runways coupled with a low operating cost, the SkyCourier is designed for rapid transport, supporting logistics, medical evacuation, and crisis response operations.
The aircraft features Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, flexible cabin configurations, and twin wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprops with McCauley C779 propellers.
It cruises over 200 KTAS (370 kilometers/230 miles per hour) with a maximum range of 900 nautical miles (1,667 kilometers/1,036 miles).
SkyCourier has two configurations. Its freighter variant can carry 6,000 pounds (2,722 kilograms) of payload, while its 19-passenger version has a payload capacity of up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms).
Both versions support single-point pressure refueling.