{
    "title": "Promotion \u2018drone general\u2019 highlights growing importance innovation within Belgian Defence",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-04 17:28:59",
    "published_at": "2026-05-04 17:26:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/promotion-drone-general-highlights-growing-importance-innovation-within-belgian-defence",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/r6Ed",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "promotion-drone-general-highlights-growing-importance-innovation-within-belgian-defence",
    "body": "<p><strong>Lieutenant General Michel Van Strythem was promoted to second-in-command of Belgian Defence on Monday during a promotion committee meeting. As Head of Defence Innovation, Van Strythem is also known as the &quot;drone general&quot;. </strong></p><p>Michel Van Strythem succeeds Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Goetynck, who is retiring. Van Strythem had been Head of Drones and Innovation since June 2025, but was soon nicknamed the &quot;drone general&quot;. In that role, he determined the direction in which the army must evolve for modern warfare. His position will be taken over by Gunther Godefridis, who is being promoted to brigadier general.</p><p>&ldquo;These appointments underscore the growing strategic importance of innovation within the Belgian Armed Forces, including the further development and integration of drones, counter-drone capabilities and electronic warfare,&rdquo; stated Belgian Defence in a press release.</p><div id=\"bookmark-526d2a9b-1ea6-4e76-891e-6fa3c9ba411b\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-reaches-344-per-cent-of-nato-spending-target\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Fd4575a31-23ae-4620-9dbb-e529083be01f%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=69eb1d8b926557379ac902cda62f7978)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-reaches-344-per-cent-of-nato-spending-target\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"526d2a9b-1ea6-4e76-891e-6fa3c9ba411b\"\n           >\n                Belgium spends 3.44 per cent of GDP on defence, security and resilience            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Belgium is currently spending the equivalent of 3.44 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and related security measures...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fbelgium-reaches-344-per-cent-of-nato-spending-target&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p>New names are also taking the helm of various branches. Major General Gert Van Goethem will become Commander of the army, and Major General (pilot) Bruno Beeckmans will head the air force. In the Medical Service, Brigadier General (medical) An Van Rompay will be the first female doctor to take command.</p><p>&ldquo;These appointments contribute to a forward-looking and agile Belgian Defence, prepared for the challenges of a complex and changing security environment,&rdquo; declared Chief of Defence Frederik Vansina. &ldquo;With this government, we have consciously set out on a path of innovation on the one hand and operational excellence on the other,&rdquo; added Defence minister Theo Francken. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><sup>Michel Van Strythem in 2023 &copy; BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND</sup></p><hr /><p><strong>Related news</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-71933b2e-c682-443d-afa2-6e787de767c6\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-hosts-first-defence-expo-as-flanders-boosts-military-tech-investment\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Fc46f5ae5-6ca2-4b46-b62a-45a95e309188%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=7afaba9b0d839ad924be9f5298dab6b8)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-hosts-first-defence-expo-as-flanders-boosts-military-tech-investment\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"71933b2e-c682-443d-afa2-6e787de767c6\"\n           >\n                Belgium hosts first defence expo            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Brussels has opened its first major defence exhibition, bringing together industry leaders, governments and military officials from around the world.            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fbelgium-hosts-first-defence-expo-as-flanders-boosts-military-tech-investment&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<div id=\"bookmark-9f623590-bbad-4ee9-85be-aed7a7d7a551\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/defence-to-train-soldiers-with-belgian-made-drone\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Fdc3e92da-be09-4283-95f6-349608dc5e6e%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=4ec1b72b00279ee368f117f245256834)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/defence-to-train-soldiers-with-belgian-made-drone\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"9f623590-bbad-4ee9-85be-aed7a7d7a551\"\n           >\n                Defence to train soldiers with Belgian-made drone            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Belgium&#039;s ministry of Defence will train military personnel using a drone developed by NoordZee Drones, a training and expertise centre in...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fdefence-to-train-soldiers-with-belgian-made-drone&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n",
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    "links": [
        {
            "description": "Belgium spends 3.44 per cent of GDP on defence, security and resilience",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-reaches-344-per-cent-of-nato-spending-target"
        },
        {
            "description": "Belgium hosts first defence expo",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgium-hosts-first-defence-expo-as-flanders-boosts-military-tech-investment"
        },
        {
            "description": "Defence to train soldiers with Belgian-made drone",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/defence-to-train-soldiers-with-belgian-made-drone"
        }
    ],
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
        "last_name": "News Service"
    },
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}