BRUSSELS, March 12, 2026 — Rising defence spending across Europe is attracting growing interest from international investors in the EU’s Aerospace and Defence sector. Against this backdrop, new Belgian-based investment holding FLARE Group is focused on innovative companies in Aerospace, Defence Manufacturing and related Dual-use Technologies.
The new European Aerospace & Defence investment firm was presented today at the Brussels European Defence Exhibition (BEDEX) 2026. Backed by private investors and family offices from the United States and Europe, the firm will focus on acquiring and supporting high-value companies across Europe’s aerospace and defence supply chain.
“With our new fund, FLARE Group will focus on opportunities within European aerospace, defence manufacturing and related technologies,” said Bert Buyle, co-founder of FLARE Group and CEO of cockpit simulator specialists EURAMEC. “Our strategy is to strengthen the growth of our existing companies while pursuing targeted acquisitions that fit our technological and industrial focus.”
Across Europe, investment in defence technology and AI-driven security solutions has surged in recent years, sectors widely viewed as critical to the continent’s economic competitiveness and strategic autonomy. For international investors, Europe’s financial environment also offers distinct advantages, according to Bill Minkoff, Co-Founder of FLARE Group. “Europe provides diversification benefits for US investors because its economic cycles and market dynamics differ from those in the United States,” Minkoff says. “At the same time, relatively favourable interest-rate conditions can reduce the cost of leveraged buyout financing and improve return potential.”
Made in Belgium
Belgium is emerging as an attractive market within the sector, meaning several Belgian tech players are on the firm’s radar. Flanders, accounting for 71% of industrial value added compared to Wallonia’s 26%, hosts a dense ecosystem of specialised engineering companies active in advanced manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and aerospace technology innovation.
According to Max Mariens, Industry Leader for Defence, Aerospace & Security at consulting firm BDO, Belgium’s position in the European Aerospace industry further strengthens the investment case.
“When considering the Defence and Aerospace industry, Flanders is somewhat under-reported. This perception is largely shaped by the traditional presence of large defence players and system builders in other regions of the country. However, this limited visibility is more a matter of awareness than of capability. Flanders hosts a strong ecosystem of highly specialized companies, research centres, and technology providers that deliver advanced capabilities across the defence value chain. As a hub for defence innovation and high-end technology development, the region is well positioned to play an important role in the next generation of defence and aerospace solutions.”
“Belgium has one of the highest space budgets per capita in the world,” Mariens explains. “Roughly two-thirds of the sector’s annual revenue of around €600 million is linked to projects with the European Space Agency. At the same time, significant investment is flowing into military aviation programmes such as the F-35, as well as armoured vehicles and cybersecurity.”
Spotlight on BMT Aerospace: largest A&D OEM in Flanders
Belgium’s aerospace ecosystem features specialised manufacturers embedded in global supply chains. One example is BMT Aerospace, a family-owned company and the largest Aerospace and Defence OEM in Flanders. The company produces high-precision components and complex assemblies used in turbine engines, helicopter drive systems and auxiliary power units for both commercial aviation and defence programmes. “We are involved in almost every aerospace programme worldwide,” says Benoit Reynders, CEO of BMT Aerospace. “The global aerospace industry is reconnecting with Flanders, and we are seeing strong expansion driven by growing investment in aerospace and defence innovation.”
FLARE Group, EURAMEC and BMT Aerospace are exhibiting at BEDEX, the Brussels European Defence Exhibition, where industry leaders, investors and policymakers are meeting to discuss the future of Europe’s defence and aerospace capabilities.
