Several drones were detected over the Klein-Broegel military airbase in the Belgian province of Limburg, where US nuclear warheads are located and which is to become the main base for F-35 fighter jets from 2027, on the night of Saturday, November 1, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Franken said.
The drones were spotted using a drone detection system, he said. After the signal, police rushed to the site, but at that time the drones had already disappeared. Franken noted that “the apparatuses were captured on video.”
This is not the first time drones have been spotted over Belgian military installations. Last month, they were spotted over the Elsenborn training ground and the barracks at Marche en Famennes. On Saturday night, there were also reports of drones near a military unit in Leopoldsburg, near Klein – Brogel.
There is no information yet on who is behind the flights and whether they were carried out for intelligence gathering or intimidation purposes.
The defence minister said the Ministry of Defence will meet with local police next week to “analyse the threat and intensify the search for drone operators”. Franken also announced the preparation of a €50 million plan to create a counter-drone system.
In Germany, Munich airport halted operations on the night of 3 October due to the discovery of unknown drones.