Drones Spotted Above Belgian Airbase To 'Spy' On Military Fighter Jets: Defense Minister

Last Updated:November 03, 2025, 16:03 IST

Drones spotted over Kleine-Brogel Air Base raised spying fears, with Theo Francken citing surveillance of F-16s. An investigation is underway amid rising NATO airspace incursions.

Belgian defence minister Theo Francken (X)

Belgian defense minister said several drones were spotted above their airbase “to spy" on military fighter jets during the weekend.

On Sunday, Theo Francken posted on X that three reports have been received the previous night of drones above Kleine-Brogel. The drones were of “a larger type and flying at higher altitude," he said.

While emphasising that they were not just flying over Kleine-Brogel, but were clearly monitoring the airbase. “A drone jammer was used, but without success … A helicopter and police vehicles chased the drone, but lost it after several kilometers," he said.

“They come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the munitions are, and other highly strategic things," Francken told CNN affiliate RTBF.

He further said that the drones were clearly “spying" and the “long time" one of them had spent over the Kleine-Brogel Air Base.

On the latest sightings, CNN quoted Francken as saying that Russia is “trying to do this in all European countries" but stopped short of directly pinning the blame on Moscow. “Is it the Russians now? I cannot say that, but the motives are clear," he said.

The airbase has the largest unit of Belgian defense forces in the country and aims to “fundamentally contribute to NATO’s nuclear deterrence strategy," according to its website.

The website said that the airbase is home to F-16 fighter jets and these will be replaced by “ultramodern" F-35s within “a few years".

CNN quoted local media reports as reporting the presence of US nuclear weapons at the site.

The latest sightings came as Europe remains on high alerts after recent incursions by drones and aircraft into NATO airspace.

Following these sightings, an investigation has been kicked off with Francken declaring that it is “strictly forbidden to fly drones above military areas".

Earlier this week, Lithuania closed its border with Belarus following “constant violations" of its airspace, the country’s foreign ministry said.

In October, Belgian defense officials reported an unspecified number of drones flew over the country’s Elsenborn military base and toward the border with Germany.

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