Belgian soldiers have been ordered to shoot down suspicious drones after a spate of incursions over military sites, including the strategically sensitive Kleine-Brogel airbase.
Army chief Frederik Vansina said troops are now permitted to engage airborne targets, but only when they can do so safely and without collateral damage, according to a report by Nieuwsblad.
He described the directive as a necessary response to the growing number of unidentified drones hovering above restricted areas.
According to Vansina, the order follows a pattern of recent drone activity over key installations, from airbases to ammunition depots. The drones often vanish before interception units can arrive.
Surge in Drone Sightings
Reports of drone incursions near Belgian military facilities have been mounting for months, unnerving both defense officials and local residents.
In several communities near Kleine-Brogel, people have described seeing small drones circling above fields bordering the base, sometimes just after dusk.
In some cases, residents said the drones appeared to be equipped with cameras or lights that briefly flashed before disappearing into the darkness.
Authorities have urged vigilance, asking civilians to report any drone activity immediately and to record sightings if possible.
Investigators are looking into whether some flights could be linked to reconnaissance efforts by hobbyists, activists, or potentially foreign actors testing military defenses.
Belgium’s limited anti-drone arsenal has made neutralizing such threats difficult. To address this, the Ministry of Defense is fast-tracking the purchase of new counter-drone technology, including special “anti-drone shotguns” developed by FN Herstal.
The company, together with HENSOLDT, is jointly bidding on a tender for a long-term counter-unmanned aircraft system program.
A 50-million-euro ($57.5 million) defense package, to be presented later this week by Defense Minister Theo Francken, also aims to bolster detection and jamming capabilities across the country’s military network.
