'We need more counter-drone capabilities': Security Council meets to discuss threat

Belgium's National Security Council convened on Thursday to discuss the threat posed by drones. The meeting follows several sightings of drones in recent days, above military areas and Brussels Airport.

Defence minister Theo Francken wants to get the National Airspace Security Centre operational as quickly as possible. The centre in Beauvechain, Walloon Brabant, is not yet fully operational. A centre exists for the navy but one is now also needed for airspace, to enable all services to work together effectively, he said.

Emergency security meeting after drones disrupt Brussels Airport flights

Prime minister Bart De Wever has called an emergency meeting of Belgium’s National Security Council after multiple drones were spotted over...

belganewsagency.eu

Francken also hopes that a consensus can be reached on his proposals to expand counter-drone capacity, even though this will not formally be discussed until the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday. 

“I think that we need more counter-drone capabilities, and that’s what I’m suggesting,” he told reporters ahead of the meeting. 

“I have a concrete plan. I will bring it to the table today and tomorrow for the Council of Ministers. We’re working it out with Defence. We are also internationally very engaged. We have a lot of good neighbours and neighbouring countries, NATO allies, and they’re all trying to help us out.”

The plan, costing 50 million euros, provides for the acquisition of equipment to detect, identify and neutralise drones.

"We have a lot of good neighbours and neighbouring countries, NATO allies, and they’re all trying to help us out"

Francken was unable to confirm whether drones had been spotted above the military domain in Heverlee on Wednesday. “We have received many reports, which are still being investigated,” he said. 

Belgian security services suspect Russian involvement in drone incidents

Belgian security services believe a state actor, most likely Russia, is behind a series of recent drone incidents that disrupted air traffic and...

belganewsagency.eu

Interior minister Bernard Quintin did not want to pre-empt the measures he would propose against the devices, which are believed to be the work of Russia. 

He said it was important to listen carefully to the security services at Thursday's meeting, “so we can hopefully make the right decisions”. “We are taking the situation seriously,” he added.

^{Brussels Airport, 5 November 2025, after flights were suspended due to drone sightings © PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP / Defence minister Theo Francken talks to reporters in Brussels, 6 November 2025 © BELGA VIDEO JEROME FETU}

Related news

Belgian army gives orders to shoot down drones above its bases

The Belgian army has given orders to shoot down any unknown drones spotted above its bases, chief of defence Frederik Vansina said on Monday.

belganewsagency.eu