Counter-drone defence in Belgium: Ministry of Defence seeks long-term industrial partners

Unmanned systems are rapidly becoming a greater threat, putting Europe's armed forces under growing pressure to act. To build a long-term counter-drone capability, the Belgian Ministry of Defence has now published a tender for a Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) capability.

Unlike conventional procurement projects, the aim is not simply to acquire a single system. Instead, Belgium is seeking a lasting partnership with industry and technology providers. Through it, the counter-drone defence of the Belgian Armed Forces is to be continuously developed and adapted to new threats.

The reason lies in the rapid pace of drone technology: drones are constantly becoming more capable, cheaper and more versatile, and countermeasures are also changing very quickly. With the new model, Belgium wants to ensure that its CUAS capabilities always remain up to date and that new technologies can be integrated swiftly.

National industry at the centre of counter-drone defence

The tender also places great emphasis on closely involving domestic industry. Innovation, system integration and long-term maintenance are thus to be anchored in the country. The goal is a sustainable ecosystem for defending against drones rather than the mere procurement of individual systems.

Belgium is thus following a trend emerging across NATO and Europe as a whole: one-off, traditional procurement projects are losing importance, while more and more states are relying on flexible, long-horizon industrial partnerships to keep pace with the technological dynamics of modern threats.

Companies have until 11 May 2026 to submit their bids for the programme.