Thales Belgium has reported a rise in sightings of unidentified drones over sensitive company sites in the Liège region and is urging clearer guidance on when and how private operators may counter unmanned aircraft near critical infrastructure. The reports come amid broader drone incidents across parts of Europe in recent weeks.
Alain Quevrin, country director for Thales Belgium, said drone activity has increased compared with “a few months ago”, with repeated observations above the company’s facility at Évegnée Fort, east of Liège. Évegnée Fort is understood to be the only site in Belgium licensed to assemble and store explosives for the company’s 70mm rocket line. Quevrin noted that Thales has installed detection systems, but that active interference such as signal jamming or kinetic defeat is constrained by current law and safety considerations.
According to multiple reports, Thales is asking Belgian authorities to clarify responsibilities between the police and industrial operators when drones are detected above or adjacent to protected facilities. The company has indicated it can technically employ jammers, but says it is not legally permitted to do so. Concerns include the risk of downed drones causing damage or injury off-site.
The uptick in sightings around Thales’ plants follows a series of drone-related incidents in Europe. Belgium’s Defence Ministry opened an investigation on 3 October after several drones were detected over the Elsenborn military base near the German border.
The same night, Munich airport reported suspected drone activity that led to flight disruptions. Separately, European officials have warned about recent intrusions into NATO airspace, prompting questions about rules of engagement and civil-military coordination.
Thales Belgium produces 70mm unguided and laser-guided rockets used for air-to-surface roles, including counter-drone tasks. The FZ275 Laser-Guided Rocket (LGR) is compatible with NATO standard launch systems and has been fielded in Ukraine, according to industry and media briefings this week. Company representatives told visiting journalists that output is being ramped up, with several thousand rounds expected in 2025 and further scale-up plans in subsequent years. Reports citing Thales indicate a longer-term ambition to increase annual capacity significantly.
Some of the 70mm rockets can be configured for anti-drone missions. The guided variant relies on semi-active laser designation and can be paired with specific warheads for different target sets. Open-source technical summaries note that the rocket family supports multiple warhead options, including types designed for proximity or airburst effects against unmanned systems.
Ukraine’s demand for such munitions remains high, according to statements from Thales Belgium executives reported this week. The company says its order book has expanded since the onset of increased drone activity across the region, and that customers have requested both unguided and guided 70mm rounds.
The legal framework around counter-UAS measures in Belgium reflects similar debates elsewhere in the EU, where responsibility for airspace security rests primarily with state authorities. Industrial operators typically deploy passive detection and alerting systems and coordinate with police or military units when suspicious drones are observed. However, the division of responsibilities, thresholds for intervention, and the permissibility of signal jamming or kinetic defeat vary by jurisdiction and are evolving in response to new threats. Thales Belgium has asked for clearer procedures delineating when company actions end and police responsibilities begin.
The Évegnée Fort site, together with manufacturing at nearby Herstal, underpins Thales Belgium’s 70mm production. Media reports state that the guided FZ275 variant is intended for larger and higher-flying drones, while unguided rockets with appropriate warheads can be used against low-flying, small unmanned platforms. The company’s rockets are designed to NATO standards for integration on existing European and allied platforms.
Belgium’s investigation into drone incursions at military facilities shows that national authorities are also confronting the issue directly. The Elsenborn incidents have added urgency to calls for integrated detection, tracking, and response protocols that link civil operators, police, and the armed forces. With commercial off-the-shelf drones increasingly capable of carrying sensors or small payloads, manufacturers and governments are revisiting site security measures and the legal limits of private-sector counter-UAS action.
Thales Belgium has not attributed the drones observed over its facilities to any actor. European officials, meanwhile, have cautioned against speculation while investigations are ongoing. The company’s request is focused on regulatory clarity rather than attribution, according to reports, and on ensuring that any intervention against drones over or near industrial plants is lawful and proportionate to safety risks.
First published on defencematters.eu.
Around 15 drones reportedly spotted over Belgian military base amid wider European airspace alerts
