Defence minister wants to fast-track anti-drone measures
Defence minister Theo Francken wants to accelerate Belgium's action plan against drones. Speaking from San Francisco, where he is taking part in Belgium’s economic mission, Francken said several measures originally planned for 2026 will now be implemented this year.
Belgium's ministry of Defence intends to improve the reporting of drone incidents and strengthen cooperation with Skeydrone, a subsidiary of Belgian airspace manager Skeyes, which uses a nationwide network of sensors. Defence plans to install similar systems at military sites to complement that network.
All data will be integrated into a National Air Security Centre (NASC) in Bevekom, which will serve as an airspace counterpart to Belgium’s maritime information hub. The ministry also plans to invest in counter-drone systems for class 1 and 2 drones, weighing up to 600 kilograms.
"The situation is urgent. We are not at war, but we are in a military crisis”
Francken declined to specify which technologies would be used. “That will be included in my proposal. One of the conditions is that they must be available quickly,” he said, adding that no additional budget would be required in 2025.
“I will submit the dossier to the Council of Ministers within two weeks,” Francken said. “We have lost too much time. That is why we must accelerate our efforts; the situation is urgent. We are not at war, but we are in a military crisis.”
Drone general
Francken also said he has appointed general Michel Van Strythem as Belgium’s new “drone general, (...) possibly the first in the world”. Van Strythem will oversee the updated action plan.
The decision comes following a sighting of drones flying over Belgium's Elsenborn military base last week. “The investigation is still ongoing; we do not yet know where the drones came from, who was behind them or what their purpose was,” said Chief of Defence Frederik Vansina on Sunday.
The drones, which had wingspans of up to two metres, were “not the kind you find in shops”, Vansina added. “This is psychological warfare comparable to cyberattacks,” he said. “The Russians are masters at engaging third parties.”
PHOTO © Nicolas TUCAT / AFP
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