Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has stated that drones spotted over military bases last weekend were sent to spy on F-16 fighter jets and ammunition stockpiles.

Source: Politico citing Francken, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "They [the drones] come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the ammunition are, and other highly strategic information."

Details: The Belgian defence chief did not directly accuse Russia of orchestrating the drone incursions, but he implied there were few other plausible suspects.

"The Russians are trying to do this in all European countries. Is it the Russians now? I can't say that, but the motives are clear and the ways of doing things like this are also very clear," he said.

Francken added that modern warfare is "truly a drone war, and the Defence Department really needs to prepare for that".

He is expected to present a €50 million national counter-drone strategy next week.

Background:

• On 2 November, Belgium launched an investigation after new suspicious drones were observed over the Kleine-Brogel airbase in the east of the country.
• A few days earlier, a separate investigation was initiated over sightings of several drones flying over a military base in southern Belgium. Unknown UAVs were spotted twice over a base in Wallonia, prompting additional concern.
• Earlier this week, Francken told the Belgian news outlet HUMO that NATO would "wipe Moscow off the map" if the Kremlin ever attacked Brussels.

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