Dutch military fires on drones over NATO nuclear base in Volkel

On Friday evening, Dutch army soldiers targeted unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles that appeared over Volkel air base, located 40 kilometers northeast of Eindhoven.

The base is a NATO facility.

A statement from the Dutch Ministry of Defence indicated that following the military intervention, the drones left the area and could not be tracked.

Located in the country’s North Brabant province, Volkel is known from open-source data as a base where American nuclear warheads are stored.

Critical facility where nuclear munitions are located

Data from the November 2023 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists indicates that the facility houses approximately 10 to 15 B61 nuclear bombs.

As of 2019, that number was recorded at approximately 150.

Additionally, in early autumn, Volkel air base served as the main deployment center for aircraft during NATO’s nuclear deterrence exercises.

In his assessment of the incident, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans emphasized the security of military facilities.

Brekelmans stated, “The use of drones at military facilities is prohibited. We will take measures if necessary.”

Flights suspended at Eindhoven airport

Furthermore, on the evening of November 22, authorities were forced to close Eindhoven airport, which serves both civilian and military flights, due to new detections of unidentified UAVs.

It is the country’s second-largest airport by passenger traffic, after Amsterdam Schiphol.

Minister Brekelmans reported that Eindhoven airport was closed for several hours due to “numerous drone sightings.”

Brekelmans noted that military authorities had “taken the necessary measures” but stated that operational details would not be shared for security reasons.

The nature of the vehicles, who launched them, their purpose, and their origin have not yet been clarified.

In recent months, incursions by unmanned aerial vehicles and other objects into the airspace of European countries have become a regular occurrence.

Unauthorized flights and unidentified drones have also led to the temporary closure of airports in Germany, Denmark, Spain, and Norway.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described these incidents as “hybrid warfare,” blaming Russia.