Belgium’s armed forces have been instructed to shoot down any unidentified drones detected over military bases, following three consecutive nights of incursions above sensitive sites including the Kleine-Brogel air base.
The order was issued by Chief of Defence Frederik Vansina on Monday, 3 November, amid a wider acceleration of counter-drone measures across the country.
Announcing the decision during a ceremony to mark the arrival of the navy’s new mine countermeasures vessel in Zeebrugge, Vansina said the armed forces “will take them down” if additional drones appear over bases. He added that engagement will occur only where it can be done safely, without collateral damage, acknowledging the practical difficulty of intercepting small, manoeuvrable systems that often operate at night.
The announcement followed multiple sightings over the weekend. Belgian authorities reported drones above Kleine-Brogel in Limburg, where the Belgian Air Component bases its F-16 fleet and is preparing to receive F-35 aircraft. Separate sightings were also investigated at other military and civilian sites. Defence Minister Theo Francken described the activity as suggestive of espionage, citing attempts to gather information on aircraft locations and other strategic assets.
Officials have acknowledged shortfalls in available counter-UAS capabilities. Existing measures, including detection systems, a jammer and handheld “drone guns”, have not proved sufficient to consistently identify or stop intruding platforms. In one recent incident, a drone evaded both ground pursuit and a helicopter response. Francken has indicated that an urgent procurement package for enhanced detection and defeat technology is being prepared, with a broader, multi-year investment plan also under consideration.
The focus on Kleine-Brogel has heightened concern. While the United States does not publicly confirm deployments, the base is widely reported to host U.S. nuclear weapons as part of NATO arrangements, adding sensitivity to any unauthorised overflights. Vansina’s directive is intended to give commanders clear authority to act when drones appear above restricted military areas, while remaining constrained by safety and airspace rules in civilian environments.
Belgian authorities are investigating the recent incursions, with police and the military intelligence service ADIV involved. The pattern of activity—repeated appearances over consecutive nights and reported use of larger platforms at higher altitude—has led officials to rule out pranks. Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere in Europe in recent months, prompting NATO members to review base protection and air defence against small unmanned systems.
Vansina said Belgium’s counter-drone programme is being advanced at pace and that an updated plan will be presented to government shortly. In the interim, the shoot-down order applies specifically to drones over military installations. The guidance reflects a balance between operational urgency and public safety, with engagement dependent on the location, flight profile and the risk to people and infrastructure on the ground.
The directive was delivered as the navy received the M940 Oostende, the first of a new generation of mine countermeasures vessels under the Belgian-Dutch rMCM programme. The ship’s arrival at Zeebrugge on 3 November marks a step in the renewal of Belgium’s maritime capabilities, including greater use of unmanned systems for mine warfare. The timing underscored how the armed forces are simultaneously fielding new technologies and confronting new aerial threats at home.
Belgium’s move aligns with a wider European reassessment of low-altitude security. Airports, energy facilities and military sites have reported increased drone activity, ranging from hobbyist overflights to suspected intelligence-gathering missions. The European Commission has proposed measures to strengthen defence readiness, including counter-drone initiatives, as member states adapt rules of engagement and invest in layered detection and defeat systems.
First published on defencematters.eu.
Drones reported over Belgium’s Kleine-Brogel air base; police deploy helicopter
