Key Belgian defense firm reports surge in unidentified drones over its facilities

Politico reported the information.

Alain Quevrin, director of Thales Belgium, said that drones are being spotted over the company’s sites more frequently than a few months ago.

He highlighted observations over the company’s Évegnée Fort facility in the eastern Liège region, the only Belgian site where it is licensed to assemble and store explosives for its 70mm rockets.

“We are concerned about these developments,” said the Thales Belgium director.

According to him, such incidents occur while the company aims to double its production capacity of unguided and laser-guided FZ275 rockets to 70,000 units over the next few years, provided there is clear demand.

He explained that the company has made a “huge effort” to install detection systems at all its facilities. The company stated that it can use signal jammers to block the controls needed to operate drones and shoot them down.

“But the problem is that we are not allowed — legally,” Quevrin said.

One concern about shooting down drones is that they could cause damage or injure people if they fall.

Quevrin noted that countries like Belgium now need to clearly define “what is the right process” for such cases, including where police responsibilities end and company responsibilities begin.

“The process needs to be clarified,” he said.

Quevrin also said Thales Belgium is seeing “unbelievable” demand for its rockets as NATO seeks to secure its airspace. Most of its current production is going to Ukraine.

According to him, since Russian drones started operating in Poland, Thales has received dozens of requests for its rockets, as its 8 km-range rockets meet NATO standards and can be integrated into existing weapons systems.

“It’s a plug-and-play solution just to address more and more types of targets,” he said.

Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland are among the company’s largest NATO clients, and the firm claims its rockets are four times cheaper than alternative market options.

However, Quevrin said that to meet this demand, the EU must help the industry overcome another obstacle: creating a body to coordinate cross-border projects and procurement for both companies and governments.

• On October 6, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he believes Russia may be behind the unmanned aerial vehicles detected in Germany’s airspace.