Four more drones spotted over Kleine-Brogel air base
Four drones were sighted over the Kleine-Brogel air base near Peer on Sunday evening, the third consecutive night of drone activity above Belgian military and civilian sites.
Mayor Steven Matheï confirmed that both the Defence ministry and police had observed four drones around 19:00, prompting the deployment of a federal police helicopter. The drones disappeared towards the Netherlands, adding to growing concern over repeated incursions above one of Belgium’s most sensitive military installations.
The latest incidents follow similar sightings on Friday and Saturday. After Saturday’s events, Defence minister Theo Francken said the drones were “a larger type and flying at a higher altitude”.
He added: “Not an ordinary overflight but a clear assignment with Kleine-Brogel as subject. The drone gun jammer was fired, but it proved to be ineffective. We are increasing our vigilance with a view to catching the drone pilots.”
This weekend, drones were also seen above Deurne and Ostend airports, but most notably over Kleine-Brogel, which is home to Belgium’s F-16 fighter jets, soon to be replaced by F-35s, and the storage site of American nuclear weapons. Attempts to disrupt the drones’ signals or intercept them from the air were unsuccessful.
"It’s drones circling above the base for up to 30 minutes, gathering highly targeted information"
Francken described the incursions as clear “espionage activities”. “This isn’t Tuur or Willem accidentally circling a military domain,” he said. “It’s drones circling above the base for up to 30 minutes, gathering highly targeted information, such as the exact location of the access gate, when the guards will pass by, and where the cameras are located. All information that could be useful for a sabotage attack later.”
The origin of the drones remains unknown. While suspicions point towards Russia, the ministry of Defence has not confirmed this.
Colonel Roger Housen told Het Laatste Nieuws that if Moscow were responsible, the incidents could be linked to tensions over Euroclear, the Brussels-based financial institution holding frozen Russian assets. The EU is considering using these funds to support Ukraine, though prime minister Bart De Wever has so far delayed the decision.
Francken is expected to present a 50 million euro anti-drone plan to the Council of Ministers on Friday.
Elsewhere, the Rivierenland police received reports on Sunday evening of around 10 drones flying over the Mechelen-Zuid industrial estate, near the E19 motorway interchange. Several patrols and the police drone team were deployed, but no drones were found. The team only observed scheduled aircraft on their approach to Brussels Airport.
#FlandersNewsService | F-104G Starfighter plane at a roundabout near the Kleine-Brogel military base, 2 November 2025 © BELGA PHOTO JILL DELSAUX
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