Belgium launches first national counter-drone testing centre

SkeyDrone and DronePort Sint-Truiden have partnered to create Belgium’s first permanent Drone Detection & Counter-UAS Testing and Expertise Centre, a national hub for developing, validating, and integrating counter-drone solutions for defence and civil authorities.

The centre will combine DronePort’s secure operational infrastructure with SkeyDrone’s expertise in national drone detection networks and regulatory integration, enabling manufacturers and authorities to test and demonstrate systems in real-world conditions.

SkeyDrone plans to operate its nationwide detection backbone from DronePort, which already supports airports, energy sites, prisons, police zones, and offshore wind farms.

The initiative aims to:

• Provide a national testbed for C-UAS innovation and accelerate European market readiness.
• Strengthen Belgium’s technological sovereignty in airspace security.
• Offer authorities a trusted platform for evaluating integrated solutions.
• Position Belgium as a European reference centre for drone detection and non-kinetic counter-drone technologies.

Executives from both organisations highlighted the centre as a pivotal step in enhancing airspace safety and fostering collaboration between government, defence, and industry.