Belgian defence minister Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist N-VA) today symbolically took delivery of the first PIORUN air defence system at the headquarters of the Special Operations Regiment in Heverlee (Flemish Brabant). This Polish missile system is used to shoot down low-flying aircraft, helicopters and drones. ‘The defence ministry has been requesting this equipment for 16 years, and I promised it would arrive this year,’ said Francken.
A whole range of brand-new drone defence systems is on display on the table next to the minister. In addition to PIORUN, the defence ministry is also showcasing new anti-drone measures: a radar that can detect drones (SAAB Giraffe 1X), equipment that can jam or disable drones (DroneShield) and even a special weapon that can literally shoot drones out of the sky, enabling the army better to protect itself against unmanned aircraft.
Weapons for every base
The new weapons and resources now being unveiled by the defence ministry are part of the “quick fix” announced by Francken earlier, intended to address the shortage of anti-drone capacity. At the end of October, he announced an accelerated plan better to protect Belgium’s critical infrastructure against drones. This was prompted by drone incidents above Belgian military bases and civilian airports.
A budget of approximately 50 million euros was made available for detection and neutralisation resources (such as jammers and modified weapons). The C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems) resources now being mentioned are part of the response to the drone threat that Francken wants to roll out more quickly. In the short term, they are intended to close the gap in Belgian air defence and anti-drone protection.
All military bases to be protected
From the beginning of January, every Belgian military base must receive an immediate response kit, a kind of anti-drone kit that combines detection with electronic jamming. The system is light and mobile and is worn on the body, with antennas on the operator's back. All drone flights are visible on a digital map.
‘If drones fly over military bases again, the intention is to neutralise them, if it can be done safely and in accordance with the rules of engagement,’ Francken confirms. The kit contains a jammer that can disrupt drones, but shotguns with counter-drone ammunition are needed to shoot them down. These will be available at all military bases from the beginning of next year.