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Unidentified Drones Conduct Reconnaissance Over Belgian F-16 Bases, Defense Minister Confirms
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Unidentified drones were observed operating over Belgian military installations this past weekend, prompting an official investigation.
According to RTBF on October 2, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken indicated the purpose of these incursions was espionage, specifically targeting key defense capabilities.
“They [the drones] come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the ammunition are, and other highly strategic information,” he said.
Theo Francken previously announced on October 2 that authorities had initiated an investigation following reports of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating above the Kleine Brogel military base in northern Belgium.
As reported by RTBF, Francken described the attempts to stop the drones, noting that current methods were unsuccessful.
“We tried to jam the drone electronically, we tried to shoot it down. It was ineffective,” the minister explained, referring to the flyovers of the Kleine Brogel airbase.
Minister Theo Francken told RTBF that Russia is attempting to conduct similar activities across all European countries. While he stated he could not confirm with certainty whether the current incursions were directly attributable to Russia, he emphasized that the motives and the methods used were highly characteristic and clear.
Earlier, it was reported that the United Kingdom is currently developing new legislation that would grant British soldiers and Ministry of Defense police the authority to shoot down unidentified drones if they pose a threat to UK military facilities.
