Belgium becomes latest European country to suffer drone incursions

The UK, French and German armed forces have sent counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) units and equipment to Belgium after series of drone incursions there temporarily forced the suspension of operations at Brussels and Liège airports on the night of 6 November 2025.

Drone sightings were also reported in other locations, including over military bases and the port of Antwerp, while on the evening of 9 November drones were also spotted flying over Belgium’s Doel nuclear power plant and Liège Airport was again affected.

The drone activity is suspected to have been orchestrated by Russia, but, just as with the rogue drone sightings in Denmark, Norway and Lithuania in late September 2025, this has not been proven.

In explaining the deployment of troops and C-UAV equipment from the Royal Air Force (RAF) Regiment to Belgium during an interview with the BBC on 9 November, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, the UK Chief of Defence Staff, stated, “It is important to be clear, though, that we don’t know – and the Belgians don’t yet know – the source of those drones, but we will help them by providing our kit and capability, which has already started to deploy to help Belgium.”

The RAF Regiment had previously deployed to Denmark to provide C-UAV support.

Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken stated in the wake of the drone incursions, “A clear decision has been made: by January 1, 2026, the National Air Security Centre (NASC) in Bevekom must be fully operational. This centre will ensure better monitoring and protection of Belgian airspace and prepare Belgium for future challenges in air security.”

The problem for the countries being affected by drone incursions is that, without solid evidence – such as a downed drone – it is very difficult to point the finger at Russia or indeed anyone else. Rogue drones also cannot be kinetically engaged in environments like civilian airports.

Furthermore, even if Russia is ultimately behind the drone incursions, the operations themselves may have been contracted out to criminal elements to offer a plausible deniability on Moscow’s part.