Judicial investigation opened into drones over Elsenborn military base
A judicial investigation has been launched into a series of drone sightings above the Elsenborn military training camp in Belgium’s German-speaking East Cantons earlier this month. On Wednesday, Defence minister Theo Francken (N-VA) informed Parliament’s Defence Committee that the Belgian military intelligence service (ADIV) had been formally appointed as an investigator in the case.
Several drones were observed flying over the Elsenborn site during the night of 2–3 October, though their origin remains unclear. “A judicial investigation is currently under way,” Francken said. “ADIV has been tasked with assisting in the inquiry. No further details can be released while the investigation is ongoing.”
The probe is being conducted in close cooperation with the German authorities, as drones were also detected by the German police across the border.
Francken said that the Ministry of Defence had launched an awareness campaign to increase vigilance among military personnel. The armed forces possess systems to detect and disrupt drones, and to neutralise them if necessary, though the minister noted that clearer legal authorisation is still required for the latter. A forthcoming Defence Code aims to provide that legal clarity.
Belgium’s military programming law also includes investments in anti-drone capabilities, and the country is closely following the European drone-defence initiative, Francken added. “There are many drone sightings,” the minister said. "We must act quickly and work efficiently to ensure we can provide a rapid response to this type of threat."
© Nicolas TUCAT / AFP
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