For the first time, the Belgian army is engaging its surveillance drones from a foreign base – Sigonella, in Sicily – in an international NATO operational mission to secure the southern flank of Europe.
Belgium is deploying its MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones outside its territory for the first time, from the Italian base of Sigonella, in Sicily, to monitor irregular migration routes and trafficking in the central Mediterranean. This deployment is part of the national Operation Silent Spear, the Belgian contribution to NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian, the pillar of the Alliance’s maritime security in the Mediterranean.
The Belgian Ministry of Defense announced, Friday May 29, 2026, the deployment of two MQ-9B drones from Sigonella in order to strengthen surveillance of Europe’s southern borders in the face of irregular migration, arms trafficking and other forms of crime. cross-border, reports Sudinfo.be. These devices, officially presented at the Florennes base in September 2025, had already been tested in Belgium as part of Operation Blue Intruder before being projected abroad.
Also read:
War in the Middle East: 25 million euros per unit, used by NATO countries including France… What is the MQ-9 Reaper, this American drone shot down 25 times by Iran
The first MQ-9B reached Sicily on April 27, 2026 aboard an A400M transport plane, before being joined by a second aircraft, opening up a new projection capacity for the Belgian army. Designed by General Atomics, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian can fly for more than 40 hours, operate at an altitude of more than 12,000 meters and carry electro-optical, infrared and radar sensors suitable for long-term maritime surveillance.
“Mapping” illegal activities at sea
In the Mediterranean, Belgian drones will be used for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) missions in order to detect and “map” illegal activities at sea, from clandestine migratory routes to arms trafficking. Thanks to their endurance and the quality of their sensors, they must provide real-time maritime situational awareness for the benefit of NATO and partner authorities.
Also read:
NATO-Russia tensions: after Denmark, Germany and Norway… Suspicious drones spotted above several Spanish airports
Beyond the capability aspect, this deployment is part of a broader political strategy to secure the southern flank of Europe. According to the Belgian government, what happens in North Africa, the Sahel or the Middle East has a direct impact on migration routes to Western Europe, and the fight against illegal migration is now considered at the same level of priority as the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
Also read:
NATO-Russia tensions: a Russian drone came dangerously close to the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier
Operation Sea Guardian, launched by NATO in 2016, is the Alliance’s principal maritime security operation in the Mediterranean, responsible for surveillance, counter-terrorism and strengthening the maritime capabilities of partner countries. It comes in a context of persistent migratory pressure: according to UNHCR data, around 154,500 people arrived by sea in Europe in 2025, the majority of whom via the central and eastern Mediterranean routes.
