Belgium Investigates Drone Incursion Over Key Air Base
BRUSSELS – Belgian authorities are investigating a recent drone sighting over Kleine Brogel air base in north-east Belgium,Defense Minister Theo Francken announced Sunday. The incident, reported Saturday, involved a drone that evaded pursuit by a helicopter, police vehicles, and attempts to disrupt its signal with a drone jammer.
Francken stated the flight wasn’t a casual overpass, characterizing it as a “clear command targeting” the base. Police are currently leading the examination, with government ministers scheduled to discuss the matter this week, according to a spokesperson for the Defence Minister.
This latest incident follows a series of drone sightings near Belgian military installations. Investigations are already ongoing into reports of drones over a military base in the country’s south-east and another at Elsenborn, near the German border, last month. Flying drones over military areas in Belgium is prohibited.
The increased vigilance comes amid heightened alert levels across NATO following similar drone activity and air incursions in recent weeks. These include sightings at airports in Copenhagen, Munich, and the Baltic region, and also the reported entry of approximately 20 Russian drones into Polish airspace in september.
In response to the growing threat, the European Commission recently proposed four European defence projects, including the progress of a counter-drone system and plans to strengthen the eastern border with Russia, aiming to bolster the continent’s defence capabilities by 2030.
Minister Francken has publicly advocated for increased investment in Belgium’s anti-drone defence systems.
