Antwerp port to receive air defence system by 2027
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges will receive its own air defence system in 2027, the Belgian government has confirmed.
Prime minister Bart De Wever announced that a first NASAMS battery had been ordered and was due to arrive in 2027, according to newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen. He said the system would be able to protect nearly two-thirds of the port area. The exact location of the system has not been disclosed for security reasons.
NASAMS is a Norwegian-American air defence system designed to intercept aircraft and cruise missiles. Each battery includes a radar to detect incoming threats, several launch units to fire missiles, and a control centre to manage operations.
Additional batteries are expected to follow in the coming years. A second unit would allow protection of the entire port and nearby sites, including nuclear power stations.
However, experts note that NASAMS does not provide full protection. It cannot intercept ballistic missiles, which require systems such as MIM-104 Patriot, and it is less effective against very low-flying drones.
De Wever also confirmed that an anti-drone system had been ordered. Last year, the port’s chief executive reported dozens of unregistered drones flying over sensitive sites, including chemical facilities and terminals.
#FlandersNewsService | The port of Antwerp © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
Related news
