Drones Spotted Over Belgian Military Bases for Third Night in a Row
For the third night in a row, unidentified drones were spotted over Belgium’s Kleine-Brogel military base, raising security concerns across Europe. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed that interception attempts failed as the drones disappeared toward the Netherlands. Similar incidents have occurred at other Belgian bases and airports, prompting an investigation and government discussions. The events come amid wider European efforts to strengthen air defenses and develop a “drone wall” in response to suspected Russian incursions.
For a third consecutive night, drones were spotted flying over Belgium’s Kleine-Brogel military base, local media reported Sunday evening. The sightings come amid a series of recent drone incursions over military areas and airports in the country.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said a helicopter and police vehicles were deployed to intercept the drones, but they had disappeared by the time authorities arrived, reportedly flying north toward the Netherlands. A drone jammer was also deployed but failed to intercept the devices. “It was not a simple overflight, but a clear mission targeting Kleine-Brogel,” Francken wrote on X.
Drone sightings were also reported over the Kleine-Brogel base on Friday and Saturday, as well as above the Leopoldburg and Marches-en-Famenne military terrains, and near the airports of Deurne and Ostend. Last month, 15 unidentified drones were observed flying over the Elsenborn military base near the German border.
Police are investigating the incidents, and government ministers are expected to discuss the sightings this week. Flying drones over military areas is illegal in Belgium.
The motive and identity of those responsible remain unclear. However, several suspicious drone sightings across Europe have intensified discussions among European leaders about creating a “drone wall” to protect the eastern edge of the continent from incursions believed to originate from Russia. NATO countries have been on high alert in recent weeks following drone sightings and other air incursions in Copenhagen, Munich, and the Baltic region, and 20 Russian drones reportedly entered Polish airspace in September.
The European Commission last month proposed four European defense projects, including a counter-drone system and measures to fortify the eastern border with Russia, as part of a broader effort to enhance the continent’s security by 2030. Francken has called for Belgium to increase spending on anti-drone defenses.
Olha Pashchenko
Contributing writer at EUReflect.