Bleesdall shooting range; Credit: Luxembourg Army

Luxembourg's Directorate of Defence and the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works have reported that the Chamber of Deputies (parliament) adopted two bills on Wednesday 15 May 2024 relating to the redevelopment and replacement of the infrastructure of the Waldhof military camp and the Bleesdall shooting range.

According to the authorities, these two projects are part of a vast programme of modernisation and restructuring of national military infrastructures. They recalled that the buildings on both sites date from the 1950s and that no major renovations have been undertaken since then; as such, this redevelopment work has been deemed necessary in particular for reasons of health and safety at work. The ammunition depot at Waldhof is set to be aligned with NATO standards in terms of ammunition storage management, while the shooting range at Bleesdall will follow the evolution of shooting techniques within the allied armies.

These two projects, together with the rehabilitation and extension of the Grand-Duc Jean barracks on Herrenberg in Diekirch, are expected to "significantly improve" the working conditions of Luxembourg Army personnel. The authorities added that the future infrastructures will meet the functional and training needs of a modern army, in particular with a view to the establishment of the Belgian-Luxembourg binational battalion by 2030.

The costs of both projects are part of Luxembourg's commitment to meeting NATO's 2% defence spending target. They amount to €71.5 million for the Bleesdall shooting range and €81.5 million for the Waldhof military camp, the authorities reported.

Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg's Minister of Defence and Minister for Mobility and Public Works, commented: "These two projects are essential for our army. Infrastructure dating from the post-war period is no longer suitable for an army undergoing transformation, which must be capable of confronting current and future security challenges. And if we want to attract more young women and men to the noble task of military service, we must also provide them with the right working environment."