Drones were observed flying over the Belgian military’s Kleine-Brogel air base – home to US nuclear weapons – for a second consecutive night on Saturday, Defense Minister Theo Francken has confirmed.
Francken wrote on social media that the ministry had received three reports of drones flying over the base on Saturday night. A similar incident involving “multiple drones” on Friday was also confirmed by the minister.
The incidents, which also included sightings at a civilian airport in Antwerp, follow a growing number of drone incursions over critical infrastructure across Europe, which some NATO officials have described as attempts to test allied air defences.
Such incidents are widely attributed to Russia, but Francken did not accuse any state actor on Sunday. “We are further intensifying surveillance to capture the pilots,” he added.
Just last week, Francken said that the most likely state actor behind the incursions was Moscow.
The Kleine-Brogel base, located in the province of Limburg near the Dutch border, will soon accommodate Belgium’s new F-35 fighter jets, making the facility a particularly sensitive target.
A drone signal jammer deployed to stop the incursions failed, Francken said, citing distance or radio frequency limitations as possible causes. “Police helicopters and vans pursued a drone, but lost contact after travelling several kilometres north,” he added.
Belgium also reported drones last month above the Elsenborn training area and this week above the army headquarters in Marche-en-Famenne.
Francken is to present a €50 million anti-drone plan next week, according to national media.
(jp)
