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     Today's fast evolving geopolitical situation and especially the Ukraine war has demonstrated clearly that the use of military Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) has transitioned from simple tasks such as target towing or battlefield reconnaissance to essential armed offensive multi-purpose missions.​

     Early use of drones by the Belgian armed forces included the Northrop (Radioplane OQ-19D) KD2R-3 Quail & KD2R-5 Shelduck, a dedicated target-towing machine used by the “Luchtdoelartillerie school/ Ecole d’Artillerie Antiaérienne” at Lombardsijde. As of the mid-seventies an advanced Belgian design, the jet powered MBLE Epervier, was taken on charge of the 1st Peloton Drones and remained active until the September 1999. In 2002 the IAI-Eagle B-hunter took over the tasks of Aerial surveillance & reconnaissance and was even deployed abroad. As of mid 2025 the Belgian Air Force has received the first General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian which is operated by the resurrected N° 2 Squadron at Florennes Airbase. The unit will be in charge of two systems composed of a control station and 2 MQ-9B’s each. The General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian is an advanced, multi-mission unmanned aircraft system (UAS) designed for long-endurance, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) as well as strike operations (an option that could be introduced as of 2027.

 

     An overview of the Belgian Defense’s most important Drones/UAV’s past and present.