Supplemental Info:
Drone Incursions Over Belgian Nuclear Bases:
A Growing Security Crisis
In late October and early November 2025, unidentified drones have repeatedly violated Belgian airspace above sensitive military installations, raising alarms over potential espionage targeting NATO's nuclear assets. The epicenter is Kleine-Brogel Air Base in Peer, eastern Belgium, which hosts U.S. tactical B-61 nuclear bombs—estimated at 10-15 warheads—under NATO's nuclear-sharing agreement. These gravity bombs, deliverable by F-16 jets, form a cornerstone of Europe's deterrence posture. The base recently participated in NATO's Steadfast Noon exercises, simulating nuclear defense scenarios.
Incursions began on October 31 with professional-grade UAVs conducting systematic surveillance, mapping F-16 positions, ammunition depots, and storage facilities. Sightings escalated: three large drones on November 1-2, pursued unsuccessfully by helicopters and police over kilometers; and six more on November 4, fleeing toward the Netherlands. Earlier, on October 2, about 15 drones swarmed Elsenborn Air Base near the German border, detected during routine surveillance tests. These events mirror over 530 similar sightings in Germany in Q1 2025, suggesting coordinated threats across NATO frontiers.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken labeled the flights a "clear attack" and "spy operation," noting the drones' advanced evasion tactics—like frequency-hopping to dodge jammers—beyond amateur capabilities. Belgium's military, years behind on counter-drone tech, failed to intercept despite deploying signal jammers and helicopters.
Airspace restrictions are stringent: Drones are strictly prohibited over military zones, enforced via no-fly zones around bases like Kleine-Brogel (a 5-10 km radius exclusion). Violations trigger immediate closures; on November 4-5, Brussels Airport halted flights, diverting to Germany and the Netherlands, echoing disruptions at Munich. Broader NATO airspace monitoring invokes rapid intercepts, though untraceable origins, complicating responses.
Airspace Restrictions
The incursions over Belgian military bases, particularly Kleine-Brogel, have prompted immediate and targeted airspace restrictions as of November 4-5, 2025. These measures build on longstanding no-fly zones but introduce heightened, temporary enforcement and closures to mitigate ongoing threats.
Key Developments
Authorization for Shoot-Downs: On November 3, Chief of Defense Frederik Vansina issued a directive empowering military commanders to neutralize unidentified drones over restricted military areas, such as Kleine-Brogel and Florennes bases. This escalates prior rules, allowing kinetic intercepts (e.g., gunfire) while adhering to safety protocols in civilian airspace. Defense Minister Theo Francken emphasized it's a direct response to three consecutive nights of suspected espionage flights.
Temporary Airport Closures: On November 4, airspace over Brussels (EBBR), Liège (EBLG), and Charleroi (EBCI) airports was fully suspended under "zero-rate restrictions" by Eurocontrol's NMOC Brussels, halting all departures and arrivals until approximately 02:00 local time on November 5. This followed sightings near these sites and military bases.
These actions reinforce permanent prohibitions on drone flights over military zones (e.g., 5-10 km radii around bases), now with proactive jamming and pursuit. No permanent expansions have been announced. Investigations continue, with suspicions of hybrid threats linked to Russia's Ukraine operations.
