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Belgium Gives “Shoot Down” Order After Unidentified Drones Spotted Over Air Base
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Belgium’s armed forces have been ordered to shoot down any unidentified drones flying over military installations, Chief of Defense Frederik Vansina announced on November 3, according to Belga News Agency.
The decision follows three consecutive nights of drone activity over Belgian sites. On November 2 evening, four drones were detected above the Kleine-Brogel air base near Peer. That same night, local police received reports of about a dozen drones over the Mechelen-Zuid industrial zone, though nothing was found on site.
Vansina said Belgium is accelerating the rollout of a national counter-drone program, with a detailed plan to be presented soon to the Council of Ministers. At present, the country’s resources—including detection systems, jammers, and drone guns—remain limited.
“The order has been given to shoot them down,” Vansina said during a ceremony in Zeebrugge for the arrival of a new mine hunter, adding that drones would only be targeted if it could be done safely and “without causing collateral damage.” He noted the difficulty of intercepting small, fast-moving drones, especially at night.
According to Belga News Agency, on October the Kleine-Brogel air base issued guidelines for residents of Peer and nearby areas, urging them to report any suspicious drone activity to the police and, if possible, capture photos or videos.
“People should also not be misled by false reports on social media channels,” the statement added.
Earlier, it was reported that the UK is drafting new legislation that would authorize soldiers and Ministry of Defense police to shoot down unidentified drones posing a threat to military sites.
