Peer (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Police chief Stefan Volckaerts confirmed the investigation into 3 consecutive drone sightings over Kleine Brogel air base in Peer continues. The Defence Ministry has ordered unidentified drones to be shot down.
As VRT News reported, the investigation into the drone activity over Kleine Brogel air base in Peer, in the province of Limburg, Belgium, is still underway, with no breakthrough reported so far. Stefan Volckaerts, chief of police of the Kempenland police zone, said officers responded immediately to each sighting, but the source of the drones remains unknown. The Ministry of Defence has now ordered that any unidentified drones spotted near the base should be shot down to ensure safety.
“Both we and the federal police arrived on the scene immediately,”
Stefan Volckaerts says.
“Because this has happened 3 days in a row now and there is a lot of attention on the issue, we also take copycat behavior into account.”
Stefan Volckaerts, Kempenland police zone
What is causing the ongoing drone activity above Peer’s air base?
The latest sightings occurred around 6:00 PM on Sunday, Nov 2, 2025. Police confirmed drones had been seen over the area for 3 consecutive days. Volckaerts said investigators are also considering possible copycat behavior, as the incidents have attracted significant public attention. However, the police believe the drones are not recreational and may have a different purpose.
“If they were devices you could just buy in a store, the Ministry of Defence would be able to detect them via radio frequencies. That’s not the case here. So apparently, some of these drones fall outside of that category,”
says Volckaerts.
The mayor of Peer said the city has not yet received any formal complaints or inquiries from residents regarding the drone sightings over Kleine Brogel air base. However, the issue has become a major topic at the weekly market, where opinions are divided. Some residents said the repeated drone flights made them feel unsafe, while others dismissed the situation as having little impact on their daily lives.
“I don’t feel unsafe at all,”
one woman said.
“But if it’s espionage, I hope they can take down those drones.”
Her friend agreed that she still feels safe for now.
“It really makes me anxious,”
says Ans, who lives near the base.
“We may have known it was coming, but now it’s really hitting home. It’s not a pleasant feeling for anyone.”
Others are also feeling the tension rising.
“I feel mostly insecure,”
says another Peer resident who prefers to remain anonymous.
“I live only a few kilometers from the base. It makes me uneasy, and I’m afraid war is coming.”
“We may have known it was coming, but now it’s really getting closer.”
Ans, a resident of Peer
Several locals, however, are demanding stronger action against the unidentified flying devices. Resident Jaak questioned why the drones were still being allowed to operate, saying authorities should act faster to remove them.
Market visitor Kurt added that the drones should be “shot out of the sky” if necessary to show determination. Meanwhile, Thomas Petracca, Strategic Director at Sennhive—a Limburg-based company that has become a global player in drone detection systems—urged people not to panic. He emphasised the importance of analysing the situation carefully and using detection technology to identify possible threats. Authorities continue to monitor the skies while coordinating with drone experts to ensure safety and security in the region.
“We must avoid reacting with panic. We’ve seen that before,”
says Petracca.
“Two years ago, for example, drones were also spotted at Gatwick Airport. There was a strong reaction at the time, but the technology has since evolved considerably.”
Petracca believes it’s better to invest in detection and defense for the long term.
“It’s best to spread the budget over several years, as we do now in Belgium. This way, we can respond to these kinds of incidents in a future-proof manner.”
Kleine Brogel Air Base in Peer, Limburg, has faced drone concerns for several years. The first major sighting happened in January 2019, when unidentified drones were seen near the base. Similar activity was reported again in early 2020, which led to tighter monitoring by the police and the Ministry of Defence. The issue returned in late October 2025, when drones were spotted for 3 evenings in a row, starting around October 26 2025.
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