Hours after the latest drone-induced airport shutdown, Belgium’s National Security Council gave the green light to a €50 million emergency programme that will see counter-UAV radars, RF jammers and ‘capture-net’ systems deployed at Brussels, Liège, Charleroi and Antwerp by 1 January 2026. Defence Minister Theo Francken told reporters the investment will be fast-tracked using NATO rapid-procurement rules and co-financed by the EU’s Internal Security Fund.
The plan foresees a new National Air-Safety Centre at Beauvechain Air Base acting as an around-the-clock command hub, integrating feeds from civil aviation radars, military sensors and local police drones. A tender for integrated detection-to-defeat platforms will be published before Christmas, with French, Israeli and Belgian tech firms expected to bid.
![Belgian cabinet endorses €50 million national anti-drone shield for all airports by 2026]()
For corporate mobility managers, the timeline is crucial. Brussels Airport handles the bulk of EU-institution traffic, hosting more than 2 000 delegation movements a month, while Liège’s night-time cargo banks underpin express delivery networks serving Pfizer’s Puurs vaccine plant and hundreds of e-commerce SMEs.
Legal experts highlight that Belgium still lacks a clear framework for kinetic drone interdiction. The draft bill accompanying the funding package grants police and military units the authority to ‘neutralise’ rogue UAVs that endanger critical infrastructure, even if that means controlled destruction. Privacy NGOs have demanded strict oversight to prevent mission creep.
Airlines and freight integrators welcomed the decision. “Predictability is everything,” said DHL Aviation’s Brussels-based head of network control. “A harmonised anti-drone shield across Belgian airspace will restore customer confidence and protect thousands of logistics jobs.” Implementation progress will be reviewed quarterly by a parliamentary defence committee.
The plan foresees a new National Air-Safety Centre at Beauvechain Air Base acting as an around-the-clock command hub, integrating feeds from civil aviation radars, military sensors and local police drones. A tender for integrated detection-to-defeat platforms will be published before Christmas, with French, Israeli and Belgian tech firms expected to bid.
For corporate mobility managers, the timeline is crucial. Brussels Airport handles the bulk of EU-institution traffic, hosting more than 2 000 delegation movements a month, while Liège’s night-time cargo banks underpin express delivery networks serving Pfizer’s Puurs vaccine plant and hundreds of e-commerce SMEs.
Legal experts highlight that Belgium still lacks a clear framework for kinetic drone interdiction. The draft bill accompanying the funding package grants police and military units the authority to ‘neutralise’ rogue UAVs that endanger critical infrastructure, even if that means controlled destruction. Privacy NGOs have demanded strict oversight to prevent mission creep.
Airlines and freight integrators welcomed the decision. “Predictability is everything,” said DHL Aviation’s Brussels-based head of network control. “A harmonised anti-drone shield across Belgian airspace will restore customer confidence and protect thousands of logistics jobs.” Implementation progress will be reviewed quarterly by a parliamentary defence committee.
