Belgium Approves Weapons for Its Military Drones

The Belgian government has ended years of internal debate by deciding to arm its fleet of MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones. The move signals a major shift in the country's defense policy. Officials approved a budget of 350 million euros to equip the drones with precision-guided missiles. Belgium purchased four unarmed SkyGuardian drones from the United States in 2023. A long-running political dispute had delayed the armament decision. Some coalition partners previously opposed weaponizing the drones due to ethical concerns. Growing security threats in Europe ultimately unified the government. "In the current international context, we need these capabilities," stated Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder. The armed drones will perform surveillance and, if needed, strike targets. They are scheduled to become fully operational by 2028.