Mysterious Drone Over French Gunpowder Plant Sparks Fears of Coordinated Probing Across Europe
A mysterious drone flew over France’s Eurenco gunpowder plant just days after two earlier incursions, escalating concerns about coordinated surveillance of Europe’s military infrastructure. The sightings mirror a growing wave of unexplained drone activity near strategic sites across the continent.
A series of unexplained drone incursions over one of France’s most sensitive ammunition facilities has raised fresh concerns about a coordinated campaign targeting Europe’s strategic sites.
French outlet BFM TV reported that an unidentified drone flew over the Eurenco gunpowder factory in Bergerac on November 12—just 48 hours after two similar illegal overflights were recorded on November 10. The site produces up to 1,200 tons of artillery gunpowder every year and is a key node in Europe’s ammunition supply chain.
Despite immediate searches, authorities found no trace of the operators. Prosecutors have opened a formal investigation, but so far the incidents remain unexplained.
French air defense chief Gen. Marc Le Bouil told lawmakers the drone appeared to be a commercially available model from DJI—raising uncomfortable questions about how easily off-the-shelf systems are penetrating European airspace around critical facilities.
The incidents come amid a wider wave of suspicious drone activity across Europe. Airports, ammunition plants, energy infrastructure, and military bases in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium have all reported unexplained overflights in recent months.
Belgium has seen some of the most alarming cases: drones were spotted over a nuclear power plant, Brussels Airport, and Kleine Brogel Air Base—home to U.S. nuclear weapons. The Belgian military has now authorized troops to open fire on drones in case of further incursions.
Investigators in multiple EU states have not ruled out potential Russian involvement. The drone sightings coincide with repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian aircraft and UAVs.
In early September, Polish forces shot down several Russian drones that crossed into their territory during strikes on Ukraine. Weeks later, Russian warplanes briefly entered Estonian and Lithuanian airspace, triggering diplomatic protests and heightened alert levels.
The pattern has strengthened calls for a more aggressive response, including the immediate downing of any drones or aircraft that enter NATO member territory without authorization.
Europe’s drone vulnerability—already exposed by the war in Ukraine—is once again under the spotlight. And with ammunition shortages still paralysing EU rearmament efforts, any probing of production facilities like Eurenco’s Bergerac plant is being treated as a potential warning sign rather than an isolated curiosity.
