When it sought to replace its ageing Hawker Siddeley HS748 and Swearingen Merlin turboprop transports, the then Belgian Air Force decided upon the Embraer ERJ regional jet family. It acquired two each of ERJ-135s and ERJ-145s, the latter having a longer fuselage. Deliveries to 21 Squadron of 15 Wing at Melsbroek air base in Brussels started in June 2001. The Embraers are used for VIP transport, this including members of the Belgian royal family and senior military personnel, as well as more general transport tasks and, if required, medical evacuation flights. The ERJ-135 and ERJ-145 family is in extensive civil airline use the world over and serves with several other air arms as a transport and special mission aircraft.