Latest news Belgium's defense minister: no amateur drones
According to Belgium's Defense Minister Theo Francken, the drones flying over two military bases in Belgium and Brussels airport are not the work of amateurs. "It is clear that something bigger is going on here," the politician from the Flemish nationalist party N-VA told the Belgian news agency Belga in the defense committee of the Belgian Chamber of Deputies. "We have to react quickly."
05.11.2025, 17:18
SDA
On Tuesday evening, flight operations at Brussels Airport came to a standstill twice due to drone sightings. According to Belga, 54 flights were canceled on Wednesday. Liège airport was also affected on Tuesday evening.
In addition, drones were spotted again on Tuesday evening at a military base in Wallonia and at the Kleine-Brogel military base in Flanders, which is used by NATO. According to unconfirmed reports, the airbase is one of the locations in Europe where US nuclear weapons are stored. An increased number of drones were already reported here at the weekend.
Francken said the hybrid threat is real and serious and matches what is being observed in other countries. "The drone incidents are coordinated in time and space, they are deliberately disruptive," he said. "No classic radio frequencies were used, but 4G and 5G networks," he explained. "These are (semi-)professional drones that flew in formation - something not just anyone can do. Various indications point to a structured operation."
In order to combat the threat, an air surveillance center must become operational. He also wants to propose to the Council of Ministers the rapid purchase of detection and defense systems against drones.
