Drones were spotted overnight at a Belgian military base believed to host U.S. tactical nuclear weapons for a second consecutive night, the country's defense minister said on Sunday, calling the incident a "clear attack" on the facility.
Why It Matters
Belgian authorities, like other European countries, have reported multiple drone sightings in recent months. Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) were spotted at the Elsenborn military base on the Belgian border with Germany at the start of October, and around military sites in Marche-en-Famenne, in the southeast of the country, later in the month.
What To Know
The drones were large and flying at high altitudes, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said in a statement posted to social media on Sunday. A helicopter and police vehicles chased down the drone for several kilometers but lost track of the UAV, he said.
"This was not a simple flyover, but a clear attack targeting Kleine Brogel," Francken said. It is not clear who is responsible for the drone sightings.
Newsweek has reached out to Francken and the Pentagon via email for comment.
Analysts say Kleine Brogel is one of a handful of European military bases hosting U.S. tactical weapons, an estimated 10 to 15 B-61 nuclear bombs that can be dropped from nuclear-capable F-16 jets. The base describes itself as a key part of NATO's nuclear deterrence strategy. In the alliance, only the U.S., the U.K. and France have nuclear weapons.
Kleine Brogel is thought to be capable of holding 44 B-61s, William Alberque, a former head of NATO's nuclear non-proliferation center currently with the Pacific Forum nonprofit, told Newsweek.
The U.S. has an estimated 200 tactical nuclear weapons, with roughly half deployed in Europe. The U.S. is believed to have around 100 tactical bombs deployed in five NATO countries on the continent, including in Turkey, Germany and Belgium.
Unlike strategic weapons, tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield or in what is known as a specific theater.
The Kleine Brogel airbase was part of NATO's annual nuclear exercises, dubbed Steadfast Noon, which took place last month.
Francken had said on Saturday "several drones" were seen over Kleine Brogel, and an investigation was underway. The minister said he and local Mayor Steven Matheï would meet with the local police in the coming week to "to analyze the threat and take the necessary measures to be able to find and arrest the drone pilots."
Francken repeated his previous calls for more investment in counter-drone equipment. Jamming equipment deployed at Kleine Brogel did not impact the UAV, the minister said.
European countries are banding together to work out how to quickly and effectively build up defenses against the most advanced aerial threats, like hypersonic missiles, as well as often cheap, disposable drones. NATO chief Mark Rutte said last month that the European Union (EU) and NATO were "working hand in hand closely together" on drone defenses, and insisted there was "no overlap" in efforts to shore up counter-drone capabilities.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, has pushed its Ukraine-inspired "drone wall" hard. The idea is essentially about layered defenses, from interceptor drones to cannons and missiles, plus electronic warfare and attempts to jam or spoof incoming drones.
NATO launched its Eastern Sentry initiative to beef up protection for alliance airspace close to Russia shortly after roughly 20 drones crossed over into Poland in mid-September. Moscow denied deliberately targeting the country.
Francken said on October 29, Belgian soldiers at the Marche-en-Famenne site noticed multiple drones flying over "crucial" areas of the military base several days earlier in what the minister termed a "worrying incident."
What People Are Saying
"It is strictly forbidden to fly drones over military areas," Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said.
Update 2/11/2025 at 11:15 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional comment from William Alberque.
