Belgian soldiers have been instructed to shoot down suspicious drones spotted over military installations, Chief of the General Staff Frédéric Vansina announced, according to Belga News Agency.
The order comes after several recent incidents in which unidentified drones were observed flying over army sites across the country. Vansina stressed that drones may only be destroyed if it can be done safely and without risking collateral damage.
He acknowledged that intercepting such devices is technically challenging, as they are small, fast, and often operate at night — frequently disappearing before security forces arrive.
A national programme to strengthen Belgium’s drone defense capabilities is now being fast-tracked, with a detailed plan expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers soon. Current resources for countering drones — including detection systems, jammers, and drone guns — remain limited.
Vansina also urged the public not to be misled by unverified reports circulating on social media.
“If more drones appear above army bases, military personnel will take them down,” he said.
