Brussels “made no attempt” to deploy its dedicated police unit to handle recent UAV incidents, Nieuwsblad has reported
Despite possessing its own specialized anti-drone police unit, Belgium chose not to deploy it during any of the recent UAV incidents, Nieuwsblad stated on Monday. Instead, Brussels requested assistance from fellow NATO members in countering what it described as a “hybrid threat.”
The unit, established four years ago and known as C-UAS, comprises 30 certified officers equipped with two drone-detection antennas, four jammers, and three net launchers, according to the report. The police website claims the team “provides technological support in combating drones that pose a serious threat to public safety.”
However, the unit was absent when an unidentified drone disrupted operations at Zaventem Airport near Brussels for hours last Tuesday, or when drones were observed near Liege Airport over the weekend.
On Sunday, Defense Minister Theo Francken announced that the UK had dispatched a unit to Belgium to address drone threats. Brussels also sought aid from Berlin and Paris, Nieuwsblad reported.
Belgian police appear to be unaware of their own capabilities, according to a member of the unit. “We’re still wondering why we weren’t called in,” the individual told Nieuwsblad. “We didn’t even try. I think many people in the police force don’t even know we exist.”
The unit’s antennas cannot detect newer 5G-enabled drones, and the absence of modern equipment often forces officers to rely on binoculars to track potential threats, the source indicated. All 30 members also hold other responsibilities, making it impossible to provide continuous monitoring even at a few key locations, the report noted.
Police declined to comment on their “resources or specific actions,” Nieuwsblad wrote.
Several Western officials have accused Russia of violating EU airspace with aircraft and drones, categorizing it as part of a “hybrid war.” The Kremlin has denied these allegations, branding them anti-Russian “hysteria.”
Drone sightings near sensitive sites such as airports and military bases are common in Belgium, according to Skeyes, the national air traffic controller. The agency reported over 31,000 drone flights near these areas in 2024, approximately 90% of which were unauthorized, L’Echo reported last month. Nevertheless, the issue had until recently received little attention in the Belgian media.