Belgian Manufacturer of Anti-Drone Missiles for Ukraine Sees Rise in Unidentified UAVs Over Its Factories

Thales Belgium, one of the largest European defense companies, has stated that it is observing an increase in the number of unidentified drones flying over its secret facilities.

Politico reported on this.

The company is calling for clear rules regarding the jamming of control signals of unknown UAVs or their downing.

Alain Kevren, the company’s director, stated that more drones are being observed over the facilities now than a few months ago.

Drones are appearing, in particular, over Thales Belgium’s facility in Fort d’Évegnée in the eastern Liège region. This is the only Belgian site where the company holds a license to assemble and store explosives for its 70mm rockets.

The comments from Thales Belgium’s director come amid a growing number of reports about unidentified drone flights, particularly in Poland, Romania, Germany, Norway, and Denmark.

Kevren noted that these incidents are occurring just as the company plans to double its production capacity for the FZ275 unguided rockets and its laser-guided version in the coming years, contingent on clear demand.

He explained that the company has made “tremendous efforts” to install UAV detection systems at all its facilities and can use jammers to block drone control signals and shoot them down.

“But the problem is that we are prohibited from doing this – legally,” Kevren said.

One of the concerns about downing drones is that they could cause harm or injury to people if they fall.

Kevren added that Thales Belgium is currently witnessing “incredible” demand for its rockets among NATO countries. Meanwhile, the majority of its current production is being sent to Ukraine.

The company plans to produce about 3,500 anti‑drone 70‑mm FZ275 LGR rockets by the end of the year; Ukrainian forces are already using them to take down drones. The warhead contains nearly one kilogram of explosive. It is packed with thousands of small steel pellets that scatter outward on detonation, producing a shotgun‑like effect to destroy or disable nearby UAVs.