The United Kingdom has deployed a specialist Royal Air Force (RAF) Regiment counter-drone team to Belgium following a request from Brussels for urgent assistance in tackling rogue drone activity around airports and military bases.
The move comes after a series of drone incidents over the past week that NATO officials have described as a significant security challenge, causing travel disruption and repeated airspace breaches at Belgian and other NATO facilities.
The UK Defence Secretary confirmed the deployment, calling it a necessary response to an escalating hybrid threat. “When our NATO allies call, we step up. Belgium requested urgent support to counter rogue drone activity at their military bases, so I’ve directed a small team of RAF specialists to deploy immediately. As hybrid threats grow, our strength lies in our alliances and our collective resolve to defend, deter and protect our critical infrastructure and airspace.”
France and Germany have also sent specialist units to assist Belgium as the country accelerates efforts to strengthen its defences. Over the weekend, Belgian authorities approved an emergency counter-drone plan that includes the purchase of new detection tools and systems capable of disabling hostile drones.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating: “The safety of our airports and military areas is an absolute priority.”
The UK team consists of personnel from the RAF Regiment’s No. 2 Counter Uncrewed Air Systems (CUAS) Wing, known for its advanced counter-drone technology and rapid-response capability.
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth highlighted the seriousness of the threat during the announcement of the RAF deployment. “The threat from UAS we have faced here in the UK, that our allies now experience in Europe, is very real and tangibly dangerous — and as demonstrated in Belgium, unauthorised and uncoordinated movements by UAS can be extremely disruptive,” he said.
“We must not underestimate the threat that Russia and other hostile actors pose to our everyday lives. Hostile technology that we could only begin to imagine a few years ago is now reality, with weapons that were once deemed unconventional now mainstream and being used against us daily.”
Smyth added that the RAF has invested heavily in counter-drone capabilities. “That’s why we have invested in developing our counter-drone technology alongside first-class training for the outstanding personnel who operate the very latest equipment. Our reputation in this field is high, and Belgium knew exactly who they needed to call. I’m immensely proud of the RAF Regiment unit from Leeming, who are on the ground helping our NATO ally to deter further incursions and protect their assets and economy.”
The deployment underscores NATO’s increasing focus on countering hybrid threats, particularly the growing use of uncrewed aerial systems by hostile actors around sensitive sites.
Photos: MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence.
