RAF Deploys ORCUS Counter-Drone Systems to Strengthen Belgium’s Air Defences

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Over the course of yesterday, the Royal Air Force (RAF) confirmed it has strengthened Belgium’s air defences by deploying counter-drone systems. The move follows an assistance request from Brussels aimed at tackling a growing level of uncrewed aerial activity that is taking place without authorisation in Belgian airspace. The announcement comes as NATO countries remain on constant alert over the hybrid threats they face day after day, particularly around major airports and military bases.

NATO assistance request and the RAF response

Commenting on the decision, Defence Secretary John Healey said: “When our NATO allies need us, we respond. Belgium requested urgent support to counter unauthorised drone activity over its military bases, so I have ordered the immediate deployment of a small team of RAF specialists. With hybrid threats on the rise, our strength lies in our alliances and our collective resolve to defend, deter and protect our critical infrastructure and our airspace.”

In another section of the same official statement published by the RAF, Air Marshal Harv Smyth took a similar view. He suggested that Russia is the main driver behind these hybrid threats, alongside the rapid advance of new technologies-once seen as non-conventional weapons, but now part of day-to-day activity in the defence of Western countries. In that context, he highlighted that the United Kingdom has made significant investments in systems designed to counter such threats, as well as in training personnel, positioning itself in Europe as one of the countries most focused on addressing this growing challenge.

RAF Regiment specialists and ORCUS counter-drone systems in Belgium

On the Belgian deployment specifically, highly specialised counter-drone personnel from the RAF Regiment’s No. 2 Uncrewed Air Systems Wing have been sent alongside advanced equipment intended to protect critical infrastructure. Italian firm Leonardo indicated that the package involved ORCUS systems (the UK version of the Falcon Shield system). These are designed to detect and neutralise the threat posed by uncrewed systems quickly, thereby reducing the tangible risk they can present to activities of major importance-such as civil aviation-or to the security of military bases themselves.

Additional support from allies and recent ORCUS deployments

It is also worth noting that France and Germany have decided to contribute specialist units focused on countering uncrewed threats to reinforce Belgian air defence, together forming a significant coverage network over key sites. At the same time, Brussels is progressing an emergency plan intended to speed up the acquisition of equipment to bring drones down, as well as advanced radar systems to extend its current detection range.

Lastly, the operation on Belgian territory is not the only deployment carried out in recent months by RAF units to support allies against the hybrid threats referenced above. A clear example is Denmark. In October, it was announced that the RAF supported Copenhagen with the same ORCUS systems while the city hosted two major political summits under the European Union framework-events where teams from other continental allies also joined with the same objective.

Image credits: Royal Air Force