The UK is deploying a specialist Royal Air Pressure workforce to assist defend Belgium’s skies following a sequence of sightings of “rogue” drones, the defence secretary and his army chief have revealed.
The bottom-based unit might be outfitted with equipment that may observe and take down unmanned aerial techniques.
It’s not but clear who’s chargeable for the drone incursions, which compelled the nation’s essential airport close to Brussels to shut briefly and have additionally impacted Belgian army bases.
Nevertheless, there are suspicions that they may very well be linked to Russia.
Different NATO nations have additionally skilled related issues, together with Denmark and Germany.
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Air Chief Marshal Sir Wealthy Knighton, chatting with Trevor Phillips on Sky News, stated his Belgian counterpart had referred to as him to request British help.
Queen Camilla appears to be like at counter-drone tools throughout a go to to RAF Leeming, Northallerton, in September 2024. Pic: PA
“I had my Belgian reverse quantity – the chief of the defence employees – in contact with me this week, in search of our assist to trace and probably defeat the drones,” he stated.
“We agreed with the defence secretary on Friday that we’d ship our individuals and our tools into Belgium to assist them with the present downside they’ve there.”
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Queen Camilla, who’s an honorary air commodore, inspects counter-drone tools. Pic: PA
John Healey, the defence secretary, stated: “When our NATO allies name, we step up. Belgium requested pressing help to counter rogue drone exercise at their army bases, so I’ve directed a small workforce of RAF specialists to deploy instantly.
“As hybrid threats develop, our energy lies in our alliances and our collective resolve to defend, deter and shield our important infrastructure and airspace.”
The RAF workforce is skilled and outfitted to fight drones.
