Australia’s DroneShield Establishes Belgian Factory to Produce Counter-Drone Systems for Europe.

Australian defence technology firm DroneShield is opening a new production facility in Belgium to manufacture counter-unmanned aerial systems for European customers. The move reflects rising demand across Europe for anti-drone defenses to protect military bases, airports, and critical infrastructure from small unmanned aircraft threats.

Australian counter-drone specialist DroneShield is establishing a production facility in Belgium dedicated to manufacturing counter-unmanned aerial systems for European customers. The site will produce anti-drone detection and mitigation equipment for regional government and defense clients as European states accelerate efforts to defend military installations, airports, and key infrastructure from small drone threats. DroneShield expects the first systems produced at the Belgian facility to begin deliveries around mid-2026, signaling a rapid industrial ramp-up designed to support expanding demand for C-UAS capabilities across Europe.
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DroneShield counter drone systems, including RfPatrol Mk2, DroneSentry-X Mk2, and DroneGun Mk4, were displayed as part of the company’s layered C-UAS architecture, combining detection, tracking, and electronic neutralization of hostile unmanned aerial vehicles. (Picture source: Droneshield)

The announcement coincides with a broader expansion of DroneShield’s European activities. The company, headquartered in Sydney and employing roughly 400 personnel, has expanded rapidly as counter-drone technologies move from niche capability to standard component of air defence and infrastructure protection. Establishing production inside the European Union allows the firm to shorten delivery timelines and reduce logistical costs associated with long-distance shipments. The move also aligns with political priorities within Europe that increasingly encourage defence companies to localize manufacturing capacity within the continent.

Belgium has already taken steps to strengthen its domestic counter-drone architecture. The Belgian government approved a national anti-drone program valued at €50 million, aimed primarily at protecting airports, nuclear facilities, and military sites following several incidents involving unauthorized drone flights over sensitive infrastructure. Within that framework, the Belgian embassy in Canberra confirmed in December 2025 that Belgium had signed a €2.8 million contract with DroneShield for portable counter-drone systems intended for detection and electronic disruption of hostile drones.

The equipment ordered by Belgium belongs to a category of portable electronic warfare systems commonly known as drone guns. These devices resemble compact rifles but function as directional radio frequency jammers designed to interfere with the communication link between a drone and its operator. One representative system developed by the company, the DroneGun Tactical, transmits targeted radio frequency signals across bands typically used by commercial drones, including the widely used 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies. When the control link is disrupted, many drones activate built-in safety protocols that force them either to land immediately or return automatically to their launch point.

Detection forms another layer of the counter-drone architecture. DroneShield integrates several sensor types capable of identifying small unmanned aerial vehicles before they approach sensitive zones. Radio frequency sensors detect the emissions produced by drone controllers, while electro-optical cameras provide visual confirmation of the aircraft. Some configurations also incorporate compact radars designed to track low- altitude targets with small radar cross sections. Depending on terrain and environmental conditions, these systems can detect small drones at distances of several kilometres, giving security personnel time to assess the threat and respond.

Operational experience gathered in recent conflicts has shaped the evolution of these systems. The company indicates that software updates incorporate operational data derived from real-world drone activity, including patterns observed during the war in Ukraine. Signal libraries built from this data help the system recognize known drone communication protocols and reduce the risk of false alarms. Software-defined architectures allow these updates to be integrated rapidly, which means existing equipment can improve performance without requiring major hardware modifications.

Portable counter drone systems occupy a distinct role in modern air defence. Unlike traditional surface-to-air missile systems designed to intercept aircraft or cruise missiles, these devices focus on neutralizing small unmanned platforms through electronic attack. Their portability allows security teams to deploy them quickly around temporary sites such as military exercises, public events or forward operating bases. A single operator can carry the device, which typically weighs several kilograms, and engage hostile drones at ranges that can exceed one kilometre depending on power output and environmental conditions.

Within that engagement envelope, electronic jamming denies drones their ability to transmit reconnaissance imagery, maintain navigation, or release small payloads. These effects are particularly relevant against commercially available quadcopters frequently adapted for surveillance or improvised attack roles. Armed forces operating in contested environments increasingly rely on such portable systems to protect supply depots, command posts, and vehicle convoys from low altitude drone observation.

The opening of a production facility in Belgium illustrates a wider transformation in the European defence landscape. Since 2022, the proliferation of inexpensive drones on modern battlefields has forced military planners to rethink the balance between offensive unmanned systems and defensive countermeasures. Small drones costing only a few thousand euros have demonstrated their ability to threaten equipment and infrastructure of far higher value. Counter-drone technologies, therefore represent a growing segment of European defence procurement.

Industrial partnerships around such systems also reflect evolving geopolitical priorities. By hosting production capacity on its territory, Belgium positions itself within an emerging European supply chain dedicated to countering unmanned threats. As NATO members reinforce their airspace protection and adapt to lessons emerging from conflicts such as Ukraine, the ability to manufacture detection and electronic warfare equipment locally becomes an element of strategic resilience. The DroneShield facility, therefore represents not only an industrial investment but also a step in Europe’s broader effort to secure technological autonomy in areas directly linked to the protection of its critical infrastructure and defence networks.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.