Belgian defense manufacturer Thales Belgium has reported a growing number of “unidentified” drones flying over its secured facilities, sparking urgent calls for clearer national regulations on counter-drone actions. The company, a key European producer of air defense systems, warned that the frequency of such incidents has increased sharply in recent months.
Thales Belgium director Alain Quevrin said the number of drone sightings over company sites had grown “in arithmetical progression” over the past six months, noting that unidentified drones were also seen above the company’s facility in Fort d’Évegnée, near Liège, where explosive materials for 70-millimeter rockets are stored. According to Eurointegration, company leadership is urging the Belgian government to establish a “clear and proper process” for neutralizing hostile drones, including clarifying where police responsibilities end and private-sector duties begin.
Rising drone activity triggers concern across Europe
The alert from Thales Belgium coincides with a broader rise in drone-related incidents across Europe. Reports of unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles have been increasing in the Baltic states, Poland, Romania, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Quevrin acknowledged that the drone incidents became more frequent as Thales Belgium began expanding production of unguided and laser-guided rockets, with a target of doubling capacity to 70,000 units within several years.
As Politico Europe reported, the company has installed detection systems at all its facilities and is technically able to jam drone control signals or shoot them down. However, Belgian law currently prohibits such actions over safety concerns that falling drones could cause civilian injuries.
Germany and NATO intensify counter-drone measures
On the same day, October 8, 2025, the German government approved amendments to the Federal Police Act, allowing officers to counter drones near airports and railway infrastructure — an update long overdue in a 30-year-old law that made no mention of unmanned aircraft. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced the creation of a special counter-UAV unit and the introduction of police-operated drones for monitoring demonstrations and critical areas.
Meanwhile, European security officials have warned of increased Russian drone activity beyond Ukraine, targeting EU and NATO states. Analysts suggest Moscow aims to apply psychological pressure on European societies and test the resilience of political elites, seeking to erode unity within the EU over continued support for Kyiv.
NATO strengthens eastern defenses amid mounting drone incursions
In September 2025, at least 19 drones entered Polish airspace, though only three were intercepted — and at significant cost, using F-35-launched air-to-air missiles. Similar incursions were reported in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and across the Baltics. NATO and allied forces have since intensified air patrols along the Alliance’s eastern flank, while European capitals debate new strategies to bolster air defenses.
Experts point out that lessons from Ukraine’s war reveal that large-scale drone swarms can overwhelm systems such as Patriot batteries, emphasizing the need for mobile response teams and specialized tactical expertise. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes Russia’s aerial operations form part of a broader campaign to test Western defenses and expose NATO vulnerabilities, while undermining European confidence in sustained support for Ukraine.
