Belgium Approves €140.8 Million Mini-Drone Procurement for NATO Missions in Romania and Lithuania

Belgium has approved a €140.8 million program to procure hundreds of tactical mini-drones for its armed forces deployed on NATO’s eastern flank, reinforcing reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities in Romania and Lithuania.

The decision was formally endorsed by the Belgian Council of Ministers on 12 December and reported by Belgian media on 14 December. The acquisition will be implemented between 2025 and 2028 and is specifically linked to current overseas deployments rather than a broad, long-term force modernization plan.

According to Defence Minister Theo Francken, the new unmanned aerial systems will significantly enhance real-time situational awareness for Belgian troops operating in increasingly complex and contested environments near Russia and Belarus. The drones are expected to improve force protection, speed up decision-making, and enable faster reactions during operational deployments.

Belgian forces stationed in Romania support NATO activities connected to Black Sea security, while troops deployed in Lithuania contribute to allied deterrence and forward presence in the Baltic region. In both theatres, small unmanned aerial systems have become critical tools for tactical-level intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

The procurement will be conducted through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and includes not only the drone platforms themselves but also training, logistics, and maintenance packages. Belgian officials say this approach is intended to ensure the systems reach operational readiness quickly and can be sustained throughout their deployment lifecycle.

Program overview:

• Total budget: €140.8 million (2025–2028)
• 2025 allocation: €53.7 million
• Quantity: Hundreds of mini-drones
• Mission role: Tactical reconnaissance and surveillance
• Operational focus: Belgian forces in Romania and Lithuania

Belgium’s investment reflects a broader reassessment within NATO of the role of unmanned systems on the modern battlefield. Belgian defence officials have indicated that future capability development could expand into counter-drone systems, electronic warfare, and integrated air-defence measures, as drones become a permanent and increasingly decisive feature of European security operations.