Drones: Antwerp Port builds up protection, Germany plans new rules

Germany and Belgium are implementing stringent military and legislative measures to protect critical infrastructure from the escalating threat of unauthorized drones.

In Germany, the public broadcaster ARD reports^[1] that  the national Parliament has passed an updated law^[2] on aerial protection (Luftsicherheitsgesetz)to defend airports from drones, which officials warn pose a “hybrid threat” of sabotage and espionage. Even a single drone can paralyze an airport, forcing flight diversions and disrupting international supply chains. To combat this, the new law simplifies the deployment of the armed forces (Bundeswehr), allowing the Defense Ministry to authorize military assistance without prior coordination with the Interior Ministry. In extreme emergencies, soldiers are now permitted to shoot down drones to prevent severe accidents. Furthermore, the law imposes stricter penalties, including up to five years in prison for individuals—such as climate activists—who intentionally breach airport security zones and endanger civil aviation.

Meanwhile, Belgium, is, according to news reports^[3], fortifying the Port of Antwerp, a crucial logistical hub that houses a major kerosene pipeline to Marseille and facilitates American military supplies. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced that the port will be shielded by the Norwegian NASAMS air defense system starting in 2027. While this system can effectively neutralize large unmanned aerial vehicles like Shahed drones, smaller drones navigating low between buildings remain difficult to detect. To address this vulnerability, the Belgian Defense Ministry is actively investing in specialized “anti-drone drones”. These upgrades directly address the growing fears of port businesses, who reported sightings of unidentified drones over sensitive chemical plants last winter. Ultimately, Belgium plans to link these systems with the Netherlands to create a protective defense dome over the entire Benelux region.

The developments in Germany and Belgium show that EU countries see an increased need for building up and coordinating their defence and resilience against aerial threats from drones, in particular against the background of hybrid threats from Russia.

[1] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/bundestag-beratung-luftsicherheitsgesetz-100.html

[2] https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/21/032/2103252.pdf

[3] https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/02/26/luchtafweergeschut-haven-antwerpen-bart-de-wever-2027/