Steenokkerzeel/Sint-Truiden, 26 August 2025 – SkeyDrone and DronePort Sint-Truiden are proud to announce a strategic partnership to establish Belgium’s first permanent Drone Detection & Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Testing and Expertise Centre. This national hub will enable manufacturers of detection and C-UAS systems to test, validate and demonstrate their solutions, and integrate them into a comprehensive, multi-layered C-UAS system designed for both defence and civil authority use.
With drones becoming increasingly present in society, both for legitimate and malicious purposes, the demand for robust, interoperable C-UAS solutions has never been greater. In Belgium and across Europe, government agencies, critical infrastructure operators, and defence forces are seeking integrated detection and mitigation capabilities that are tested, validated, and proven in operational settings. Meeting this demand calls for state-of-the-art infrastructure combined with advanced system integration expertise, precisely what this new centre will deliver.
Complementary Strengths, Shared Vision
- DronePort Sint-Truiden will provide the physical infrastructure and secure, real-world operational environment necessary for continuous testing, demonstrations, and stakeholder collaboration, opening its facilities to a wide range of parties developing both C-UAS systems and advanced drone technologies, and creating an environment where opposing technologies can challenge each other to enhance and future-proof airspace security.
- SkeyDrone, as operator of Belgium’s national backbone drone detection network and U-space service provider, will enable the technical integration of the various subsystems, manage the interfaces with civil aviation stakeholders, safeguard compliance with regulatory frameworks, and connect participating solutions to its existing detection network.
National Operational Backbone
Looking ahead, SkeyDrone envisages to operate its national base detection network and services from DronePort Sint-Truiden. This network already serves critical infrastructure across Belgium, including airports, strategic energy production and distribution sites, prisons, and offshore wind farms, as well as several local police zones. From DronePort Sint-Truiden, SkeyDrone plans to deliver real-time monitoring and alerting services nationwide.
Strategic Impact
This partnership will:
- Establish Belgium’s national testbed for C-UAS innovation, accelerating time-to-market for Belgian and European technology providers.
- Strengthen Belgium’s technological sovereignty in C-UAS capabilities.
- Offer defence and civil authorities a trusted platform for evaluating and selecting integrated solutions.
- Position Belgium as a European reference centre for drone detection and non-kinetic counter-drone technologies.
Ward Decaluwé, CEO of DronePort Sint-Truiden, commented: “With this C-UAS Centre, DronePort Sint-Truiden further establishes itself as the beating heart of Belgium’s drone ecosystem. By combining our unique infrastructure with SkeyDrone’s expertise, we are creating an innovation hub where authorities, technology providers, and end users can collaborate to address one of today’s most pressing airspace security challenges.”
Hendrik-Jan Van Der Gucht, Managing Director of SkeyDrone, added: “The establishment of this centre marks a pivotal step in building a safer and more resilient airspace. By leveraging DronePort’s operational environment and integrating it with our national detection backbone, we’re not only enhancing our service capabilities but also fostering a collaborative environment where industry, government, and defence can co-create the future of airspace security.”
About SkeyDrone
SkeyDrone is a joint venture between the Belgian Air Navigation Service Provider skeyes and Brussels Airport Company. The company’s mission is to provide end-to-end solutions for all your business needs related to the use of uncrewed aircraft (drones). SkeyDrone offers solutions for lower airspace monitoring, management and protection against drones for authorities and geozone managers, UTM/U-space & consultancy services for drone operators and business integration services for companies. Playing a pivotal role in the implementation of U-space in Belgium, SkeyDrone is on track to make history by becoming one of the first certified U-space service providers in Europe.
About DronePort Sint-Truiden
DronePort Sint-Truiden is a unique 30ha industry park for innovative aviation companies, offering an ecosystem of innovative businesses and testing grounds within the aerospace and drone sector. DronePort Sint-Truiden offers state-of-the-art test facilities with segregated airspace, allowing you to test and demonstrate new applications to customers and train uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) pilots. All test grounds are managed by Limburg Regional Airport in close collaboration with the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), ensuring safe operations. Additionally, there are specialized testing grounds tailored to specific drone applications, such as for agriculture applications and BVLOS flights.
