Textron Aviation has secured a contract from Belgium to supply five Cessna SkyCourier aircraft, representing the first military procurement of the platform. The aircraft will be delivered in 2027 to Sabena Engineering, which serves as the Belgian armed forces’ long-term MRO partner.
Sabena will carry out mission-specific integration and certification before handing over the aircraft to the Belgian Special Operations Forces. Textron Aviation Defense CEO Travis Tyler noted that the selection demonstrates strong military interest and confirms the SkyCourier’s readiness for high-risk operational roles.
Built for efficiency and flexibility, the SkyCourier is capable of operating from short and unpaved airstrips while maintaining low lifecycle costs. It is designed to support a range of missions, including logistics transport, medical evacuation, and emergency response.
The aircraft features Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, configurable cabin interiors, and twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines with McCauley C779 propellers. It can cruise at speeds above 200 KTAS (370 km/h) and has a maximum range of 900 nautical miles (1,667 km).
Available in two variants, the SkyCourier freighter can carry up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg) of cargo, while the passenger version accommodates 19 personnel with a payload capacity of up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg). Both configurations support single-point pressure refueling.
