Reading an article from last year (VRT news in August 2024), it seems that drones stepping into military bases airspace were pretty usual, the army explained that "no drone goes unnoticed", they even knew that often it was about local pilots and the only problem was "the accident of drones can cause with other planes" and "police having extra workload to intercept them and issue the fines"
But now, all of a sudden, it is all about (maybe Russian) spy drones, lack of detection systems and inability to intercept any of them…
Why this sudden change in just 1 year?
by atrocious_cleva82
16 comments
This is the full article:
>Published: wo 14 aug. 2024 14u08
>In our country, it’s forbidden to fly your drone over military areas. This also applies to Kleine-Brogel in Peer. A zone has been established around the airbase where drones are not permitted, but people still venture out.
>**In the past two months, there have been eight incidents involving illegal drones. That’s a remarkable number. “In the past, we’d get the occasional report, but now we’re really getting a lot,” says base commander Koen Vanheste. “Near Kleine-Brogel, it’s even illegal to even turn on your drone. But people are doing it anyway.”**
>Danger at the airport
>The pilots often have no malicious intent, but a drone can be very dangerous at an airport. “A drone that collides with our aircraft can cause significant damage, even the loss of the aircraft. Furthermore, a drone has very high-performance cameras, and it is prohibited—and this applies to all military installations in Belgium—to record footage of them. So you’re violating Belgian law,” says the commander.
>**Striking: the offenders are often local residents. Some even have permits. “That surprises us, especially since you’ve had training. You’d assume they know the law.”**
>**No drone goes unnoticed**
>**Even if your drone accidentally comes near Kleine-Brogel, nothing goes unnoticed at the airbase. Kleine-Brogel has a detection system that can locate drone activity. If a drone is spotted, airport security and the police will be dispatched, and the drone will be confiscated. The pilot will also receive a fine.**
>A drone is not a toy. Base Commander Koen Vanheste
>**”It therefore creates unnecessary workload for airport defense and local police**. The confiscation of the drone can also cause frustration for the owner, so this isn’t good for anyone. That’s why we’re asking pilots to be extra vigilant,” says Vanheste.
edit: you are downvoting a VRT article???
Sssshhht, stop asking the pertinent questions! The Imbecile of Defence might hear you!
>> Defenceless
Yet, all of NATO straight up refuses to acknowledge and prepare for the new reality in which only Ukraine can share real-life experience as they’ve been fighting against the drones for the past 3 years and being totally neglected for to this day.
Mental
Voortschrijdend inzicht noemt dat. Iets wat ontbreekt bij onzekere of dogmatische geesten.
Because we now realize how the Russians can use them for sabotage and disruption and espionage.
It’s crazy the military didn’t already shoot down any drone coming near a military base since the first time it ever happened
The change in framing over the past year might be due to a combination of factors. First, the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has made security threats feel more urgent, and countries like Germany have already issued warnings, discussed military enlistment, and increased funding for military and aviation research. Second, even last year’s article shows that drones were recognized as a problem, but perhaps it wasn’t perceived as an immediate national security risk. Finally, differences in authors’ perspectives and reporting styles can influence how serious an issue seems.
Either way, we’re living in unpredictable times.
Kan me enkel maar vragen stellen waar ik echt geen antwoord op vind. 2uur haast stationair boven een bepaalde locatie hangen. Waarom gebruiken we nog helicopters ter observatie bij politie??? Wist echt niet dat de technologie van drones zover stond.. en dan langs de andere kant, hoe slecht zijn ze in observeren als ze verschillende nachten op rij moeten terugkeren.
Because since the date of publication of your article, there has been an increase of reported incidents of (presumed Russian) violation of Nato airspace.
Why are you framing this as a conspiracy?
Last year’s article talks about 8 incidents in 2 months where the owners of the drones were located. Most of the time it’s people doing sightseeing.
This year there have been multiple incidents in 2-3 weeks specifically at military bases. And dozens of incidents all over military targets in Europe where the perpetrator is not found.
Clearly the drone sightings from this year have a pattern that wasn’t present last year. IMO it’s pretty concerning that coordinated drone flights can happen all over Europe and no one really has an answer for them.
They should equip the security there with shotguns and bird shot shells
Er bestaan “drone in a box” stations met drones die letterlijk andere drones uit de lucht slaan. Op afstand bestuurd door een enkele operator.
Veel goedkoper en efficiënter dan die jammers. Maar blijkbaar is panikeren en meer dure jammers kopen topprioriteit geworden.
I guess the top brass finally realised a €200 drone can take out a €45 million jet. Last year we were still flying F16s that were held together by paint and speed tape. Now that the conversion to F35 is in full swing, protecting our investments becomes high priority.
In the current war Ukraine successfully fucked the Russian strategic bomber fleet because they are just parked outside without good shelters.
Belgium also lacked the discipline to have plenty of hardened shelters. So those shiny new F35’s and the old F16’s could easily all get wrecked by the drones if a tiny explosive were to be added to it.
There’s also been overreporting of supposed effectiveness of defence systems like anti drone ‘guns’ disrupting communication, birds of prey, … Those turn out to be useless.
Because the military has to somehow justify why they are the only ones that get millions and millions of euros extra. A bit of fearmongering about something that apparently happens all the time seems to work looking at most reactions here.
The biggest conflict since WWII and nearby is almost ignored by local media.
Hundreds of drones from each side almost daily for at least two years now.
Read WWII history. It repeats itself.
The change is because Theooke wants to buy more weapons.
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