Belgium orders interceptor drones after incidents with unidentified UAVs
Photo: Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds and Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken (x.com/AndrisSpruds)
The Belgian government has purchased interceptor drones from a Latvian company after a series of drone-related incidents, Reuters reports.
According to Belgium’s Defense Minister Theo Francken, he signed an agreement in Riga with the Latvian company Origin Robotics to buy autonomous Blaze drones, which can be used to detect and destroy hostile drones.
"In a couple of weeks, we will also have these counterdrones strengthening our capabilities," he wrote on X.
The drone deal is part of a €50 million (about $57.99 million) counter-drone package, though the ministry did not specify how much of that sum is allocated to the agreement with Origin Robotics.
Francken added that Belgium ultimately plans to invest €500 million in a larger counter-drone program that will include advanced radar systems and expanded jamming capabilities.
Drone incidents in Belgium
On the night of November 1, unidentified drones were spotted over the Kleine-Brogel air base in the town of Peer. A barracks employee noticed a drone, and police arrived at the scene, but neither the drone nor its operator was found.
A report on the incident was forwarded to the Ministry of Defense and military intelligence, and the local municipality demanded increased security around the base where American nuclear weapons are stored.
Three days later, on the evening of November 4, unidentified drones were once again detected near the same base. Residents reported seeing six drones; police were able to visually confirm only two, and a search helicopter failed to locate them.
This was the second such incident in a week, and local authorities stressed the importance of securing the base, especially ahead of the planned deployment of F-35 fighter jets.
