MILAN \u2014 Authorities have recorded 14 unidentified drone sightings across Europe in the last two months, the latest hovering above a Belgium tactical fighter aircraft base that also reportedly houses U.S. tactical nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said Belgium was targeted on two consecutive nights from Nov. 1-3 by drones that flew in different stages near the Kleine Brogel installation.<\/p>\n
The first phase included \u201csmall drones to test the radio frequencies\u201d of the country\u2019s security agencies, and the subsequent one consisted of \u201cbig drones to destabilize the area and people,\u201d Francken said in an interview with Belgian public broadcaster RTBF.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt resembles a spy operation \u2013 by whom, I don\u2019t know. I have a few ideas, but I am going to be careful [about speculation],\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
While Washington does not disclose the number of tactical nuclear weapons deployed on European soil, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation estimated that there are at least 100 U.S.-owned ones stored in five NATO countries across six bases, including Kleine Brogel.<\/p>\n
The air base is also home to Belgium\u2019s F-16 fleet and is set to host some of the country\u2019s F-35 fighter jets, of which the first units were received late last month.<\/p>\n
The incident is the most recent in a wave of drone incursions that has plagued more than a handful of European countries since the fall. The peak of aerial intrusions happened between Sept. 20 and Oct. 5, during which a significant burst of activity was reported primarily in Denmark, Norway, Germany and Belgium.<\/p>\n
After this multi-country wave, the number of recorded drone sightings slowed but continued with repeated incursions in Belgium and Germany in the last week. A majority of these cases were geographically concentrated along NATO\u2019s northern flank.<\/p>\n
The most common types of targets included military installations and dual-use airports.<\/p>\n
Most sightings appear to have taken place at night, often in group formations of multiple drones at once.<\/p>\n