Drones have been seen flying over a Belgian military base near the Dutch border for a third night in a row, according to the country's defence minister.
A helicopter was deployed to the Kleine-Brogel base after drones were spotted, which then flew off towards the Netherlands, as reported by national broadcaster VRT.
Defence Minister Theo Francken stated that an investigation was underway, labeling the incident as a clear mission targeting Kleine Broge. He expressed concerns that it appeared to be an espionage operation but refrained from speculating on the perpetrators.
I have some ideas, but I'm going to be cautious, Francken cautioned.
Additionally, drones were reported flying over other military air bases like Leopoldsburg and Marche-en-Famenne, as well as close to key airports in Ostend and Antwerp.
This incident adds to a series of similar occurrences in recent months disrupting European airspace. In October, drone sightings led to the suspension of operations at Germany’s Munich airport on two separate occasions. Denmark encountered unconfirmed drone activity over its airports, speculated to be orchestrated by a professional actor, though the Danish Defence Minister noted no evidence of Russian involvement.
Also, in September, a series of incursions involving Russian drones sparked concerns, leading Estonia and Poland to convene discussions with fellow NATO members. Russia has denied violating airspace over Estonia while asserting that incursions into Poland were accidental.
The escalating drone activity has prompted the European Commission to propose four defense projects aimed at bolstering security, including a counter-drone system, as part of initiatives to prepare for enhanced defense capabilities by 2030.
