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By Sean Rayment
Britain is sending a specialist Royal Air Force regiment counter-drone unit equipped with advanced technology to Belgium after repeated incursions by “uncrewed aerial systems” over the country’s airports and military bases.
Sir Richard Knighton, the head of the UK’s armed forces, said the British military would provide “our people, our equipment” to support Belgium, though he was careful to note that “we don’t yet know” the origin of the drones.
“Russia is the biggest threat right now, and their illegal invasion of Ukraine has shown what they are capable of,” he added. “Russia is something we should be concerned about. We know they are carrying out sabotage and waging a hybrid war against us.”
The decision follows a formal request for assistance from Belgium. Flights were disrupted at Brussels and Liège airports last Thursday after unidentified drone sightings, which were also reported over military bases and nuclear facilities in the country.
Russia has been identified as the most likely culprit, the latest in a string of incidents across northern Europe this autumn.
Knighton said that even without definitive proof of who was behind the drone flights, he was “very happy” to act in support of a NATO ally.
John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said: “When our NATO allies call, we step up. Belgium requested urgent support to counter rogue drone activity at their military bases, so I have 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.”
Germany announced last week that it had sent specialist assistance, and Belgian authorities said France had followed suit. The United Kingdom’s support is expected to come from the RAF’s dedicated counter-uncrewed aerial systems unit.
Last week Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, said he believed the drone incursions were “likely connected with the fight over the use of Russian frozen assets held by Belgium”. EU and UK politicians have been discussing how to release Russian central bank assets, held mostly in Belgium, to support a €140 billion (£120 billion) loan to Ukraine.
France and Germany have also deployed specialist units to defend the sites and counter the drone threats.
Specialised air force units of the German military have been deployed to secure airspace around the Kleine Brogel military base after drones were thought to have crossed from Germany.
Instead of using radio frequencies, the drones use global positioning satellites, which allows them to be controlled on pre-programmed operational targets from as far as 125 miles away.
Alliance intelligence services have conceded that the drones, potentially operated by freelance criminals recruited by Russian intelligence networks via messaging apps, are being deployed to intimidate Belgium into halting the transfer of €140 billion in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence.
Pistorius said on Friday: “We all see this connection. The Belgians too. This is a measure aimed at spreading insecurity, at fearmongering in Belgium. ‘Do not dare touch the frozen assets.’ This cannot be interpreted any other way.”