UK Deploys Counter-Drone Teams as BVLOS Plans Push to 2027

(BELGIUM) — The United Kingdom deployed specialist Royal Air Force Regiment counter-drone teams to Belgium in November 2025 to help Brussels and Liège airports restore operations after six consecutive days of coordinated drone incursions.

British teams from No. 2 Counter-Uncrewed Air Systems (CUAS) Wing at RAF Leeming worked alongside Belgian forces using electronic jamming, detection and kinetic tools, amid NATO efforts to respond to what officials described as organised probing of low-altitude airspace.

Political and military framing

“When our NATO allies call, we step up,” — Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, framing the mission as an allied obligation as disruptions rippled through civilian aviation and nearby military sites.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Britain’s Chief of the Defence Staff, linked the threat environment to Russia’s hybrid warfare during its Ukraine invasion, as European officials tracked a cluster of late-2025 incidents around airports and sensitive sites.

Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said he suspected a “spying operation” beyond amateur capabilities, and Belgium moved to pursue both emergency and long-term procurement plans after repeated drone activity over critical infrastructure.

Scope and impact of the November 2025 incidents

• Disrupted operations at Brussels Airport and the major cargo hub at Liège.
• Affected military bases, including sites reportedly storing US nuclear weapons.
• Prompted rapid coordination among allies and fresh debate on protecting aviation from low-cost, hard-to-trace aircraft.
• Caused concern among airlines and cargo operators because even brief shutdowns can cascade into continent-wide network disruption.

France, Germany and the UK sent experts and equipment during Belgium’s response. The United States offered technical aid, announced on November 13, 2025, adding to NATO’s visible effort to reinforce low-altitude defences.

Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth described the RAF contribution as “world-class” capabilities built from earlier UK incidents, while Belgium sought to deter threats that could hit NATO assets and local economies.

Belgian emergency and long-term measures

Belgium approved an emergency €50 million package that included Origin Robotics’ AI-powered BLAZE interceptor. It also launched a €500 million long-term programme in response to incursions over nuclear sites and military bases.

• Emergency package: €50 million (includes BLAZE interceptor)
• Long-term programme: €500 million

These moves were a direct response to the mix of civilian aviation disruption and threats to sensitive military sites.

UK domestic response and centralisation

The UK moved to centralise its aviation security response by activating the National Air Safety Center on January 1, 2026. The centre is a hub to:

• Monitor trends
• Coordinate detection and enforcement
• Deploy assets quickly

The centre forms part of the UK National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP) and links to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s 2026–2050 Strategic Plan for zero-fatality aviation. The UK made a CAD 2.2 million voluntary contribution to safety and sustainability.

Coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and European partners aims to improve data-sharing and early warning, reflecting concern that even brief airport shutdowns can cascade through networks.

Regulatory tightening: CAA measures effective January 1, 2026

The CAA introduced tightened rules for recreational and commercial users, effective January 1, 2026:

• Drones over 250 g must:
• Be registered
• Carry class-marking for traceability via unique identifiers
• Operators must maintain a 50 m minimum distance from people, vehicles, buildings and infrastructure
• Stricter no-fly zones near airports using a 5 km radius
• Mandatory real-time NOTAM checks before flight
• Maximum 120 m height limit remains

Penalties:
– Violations can carry fines up to £2,500

Officials argue that class-marking and traceability will support prosecutions and deterrence, while acknowledging that determined actors may still use cheap platforms to probe airspace and test responses.

Innovation and BVLOS roadmap

The UK continues to push an innovation agenda anchored by a BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) roadmap targeting routine BVLOS operations by 2027. This is described in the Air Navigation Guidance 2026 (proposed version, published late 2025).

Planned uses:
– Infrastructure inspections
– Medical deliveries
– Emergency aid

Safety expectations include:
– Layered detection systems
– Clear reporting to law enforcement
– Protocols aligned with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

The Air Navigation Guidance 2026 lays out priorities: safety first, then capacity, noise minimisation below 4,000 ft, and emissions. The aim is to let routine BVLOS flights coexist with commercial air traffic.

Examples of regulated progress:
– FPV UK’s Article 16 Operational Authorisation for 2026

Funding and charges:
– A 2026/27 charges consultation proposed modest increases to support digital upgrades, safety oversight and consumer protection.
– This follows £15 million invested to streamline processes — described as equating to under £0.50 per UK passenger.

European and NATO-level responses

European officials have warned that low-cost drones can be used to test response times and exploit airport vulnerabilities. Earlier incidents shaped the current push:

• 2018 Gatwick disruption: lasted 36 hours, cancelled 1,000 flights, stranded 140,000 passengers (easyJet later counted a £15 million cost).
• Suspensions in Oslo and Copenhagen (September 2025).
• Reports of incursions in Germany, Denmark and Baltic states.

Lithuania accused Russia and Belarus of hybrid provocations on October 27, 2025, issuing shoot-down warnings as governments balanced protection with safety risks from hasty countermeasures.

The EU response:
– Vice President Kaja Kallas said on November 20, 2025 that an anti-drone system was being developed and would be operational by end-2027, coordinated with NATO.

NATO has been pushing low-altitude defence work that includes sensor-sharing and joint exercises. The alliance’s backing of the Belgian response highlighted how quickly a local airport incident can become a wider security test.

Trade-offs and operational challenges

Counter-drone decisions carry trade-offs:

• Electronic jamming can reduce debris risks but may disrupt other systems.
• Kinetic options require precision in densely populated areas near transport hubs.

Belgium faced scrutiny after 17 drone flights over nuclear plants triggered criminal probes, highlighting the overlap between aviation security, critical infrastructure protection and military readiness.

For airlines and passengers, the immediate problem is procedural: a single sighting can halt departures and arrivals, push crews over working limits, and force late-night diversions. Cargo operators monitor hubs like Liège closely because disruption there can translate into missed slots and wider scheduling impacts.

Strategic lessons and political messaging

The November 2025 incidents in Belgium have become a reference point for allied planners because they combined repeated airport disruption with threats to military installations. Responses included:

1. Emergency deployments (e.g., RAF CUAS teams)
2. Rapid procurement (e.g., €50 million emergency package)
3. Longer-term investment (e.g., €500 million programme)
4. Greater coordination across NATO, EU and national agencies

Belgian and British officials emphasised NATO readiness and shared detection/response approaches. Grant Shapps’ message — “When our NATO allies call, we step up” — captured the political framing, while defence leaders stressed that protecting airfields and airports requires constant attention to low-altitude threats.

Ongoing balance: expanding legitimate drone use vs preventing incursions

As Europe works toward an EU anti-drone system planned for end-2027, and the UK pursues routine BVLOS operations by 2027, officials face a difficult overlap:

• Encouraging legitimate drone services and innovation (economic and public-service benefits)
• Preventing coordinated incursions that can shut down an airport in minutes

The UK’s January 2026 centralisation through the National Air Safety Center aims to shorten decision cycles, improve situational awareness and speed reopenings once risks are assessed, while making clearer lines between permitted BVLOS expansion and unauthorised flights near airports and sensitive sites.