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New Drone Incursions Hit NATO-Used Belgian Base, Prompt Brief Airport Shutdowns in Germany

Authorities are investigating repeated incursions after failed jamming, prompting calls for stronger drone defenses.

Overview

  • Belgian military and police reported four drones over the Kleine-Brogel base on Sunday evening, with a police helicopter tracking them before they disappeared north toward the Netherlands.
  • Defence Minister Theo Francken said larger, high-altitude models targeted the site, a jammer had no effect, and a combined air and ground pursuit lost contact after several kilometres.
  • Francken described the overflights as a clear attack and suggested Russia could be behind them, though investigators have not identified any perpetrators.
  • Belgium plans a meeting with local police to analyse the threat and seek the operators, while a separate drone was reported near Antwerp’s airport on Saturday.
  • Germany saw brief flight suspensions at Berlin’s BER on Friday and at Bremen’s airport on Sunday night, underscoring wider European concerns over detection and counter-drone gaps.