The German army is sending units to Belgium to help the Belgian military tackle the issues that have arisen recently with drone flying over military bases, airports and other strategic infrastructure. The first German army units are said to have already arrived to assess the situation and set up a joint operation with the Belgian army. The German army is responding to a request for assistance from the Belgian military.
In recent days Belgium has repeatedly had to deal with drones flying over sites such as military bases and airports. For example, drones have been spotted several times above the military base at Kleine-Brogel (Limburg Province). Although never officially confirmed, it is common knowledge that American nuclear weapons are stored at Kleine-Brogel.
Air traffic at Brussels Airport in Zaventem (Flemish Brabant) also had to be halted twice on Tuesday evening after drones were spotted. On Thursday air traffic was interrupted for half an hour again after a drone was spotted above the country’s busiest airport.
The Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist) said on Wednesday that the incidents at Zaventem on Tuesday were not the work of amateurs. “These were (semi-)professional drones flying in formation, something not everyone can do. Various indications suggest that this was a structured operation”
The German army will now assist the Belgian military in the fight against drones. The first units are said to have already arrived “to assess the situation and coordinate the temporary deployment of drone detection and defence systems with the Belgian armed forces”.