Several drones spotted above a Belgian airbase over the weekend were there “to spy” on military fighter jets, the nation’s defense minister stated Sunday, at a time when European nations are on excessive alert for airspace intrusions.
“They come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the munitions are, and other highly strategic things,” Theo Francken instructed NCS affiliate RTBF.
The drones were clearly “spying,” the minister stated, noting the “long time” considered one of them had spent over the airbase.
Kleine-Brogel Air Base, within the municipality of Peer, hosts the most important unit of Belgian defense forces within the nation and goals to “fundamentally contribute to NATO’s nuclear deterrence strategy,” in keeping with its web site. Local media studies have lengthy rumoured the presence of US nuclear weapons on the web site.
When requested for remark, NATO referred NCS to the Belgian authorities. NCS has approached Belgium’s Ministry of Defense for additional remark.
The newest sightings come as Europe is on excessive alert after latest incursions by drones and plane into NATO airspace.
The airbase is house to F-16 fighter jets, the airbase’s web site stated, including that these are set to get replaced by “ultramodern” F-35s inside “a few years.”
Speaking of the newest sightings, Francken stated that Russia is “trying to do this in all European countries” however stopped wanting straight pinning the blame on Moscow.
“Is it the Russians now? I cannot say that, but the motives are clear,” he stated.
On Sunday, Francken posted on X that three studies had been acquired the earlier night time of drones above Kleine-Brogel. The drones were of “a larger type and flying at higher altitude,” he stated.
He harassed that they were not simply flying over Kleine-Brogel, however were clearly monitoring the airbase.
“A drone jammer was used, but without success … A helicopter and police vehicles chased the drone, but lost it after several kilometers,” he stated.
The most up-to-date sightings observe different studies of drones above Kleine-Brogel earlier on Saturday. Those sightings kicked off an investigation, with Francken declaring that it’s “strictly forbidden to fly drones above military areas.”
Earlier this week, Lithuania closed its border with Belarus following “constant violations” of its airspace, the nation’s international ministry stated.
Last month, Belgian defense officers additionally reported that an unspecified number of drones flew over the nation’s Elsenborn military base and towards the border with Germany.