Dutch Military Fires on Drones Over NATO Air Base

The Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands deployed ground-based weapons to shoot down up to 10 unidentified drones over Volkel Air Base between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on November 21, 2025. Despite the engagement, the drones left the area and no wreckage was recovered. Volkel is a strategic NATO site hosting F-35 fighter jets and is believed to store U.S. B61 nuclear bombs.

Drone activity continued on November 22, when multiple unidentified aircraft forced the suspension of all civilian and military air traffic at Eindhoven Airport for several hours. The disruption rerouted six inbound flights and grounded two departing flights before operations resumed late that night. Further drones were spotted over Volkel Air Base on Saturday evening, prompting authorities to deploy measures to chase them away.

These incidents are part of a broader pattern of sightings at sensitive sites across the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Romania, and Germany. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other officials have characterized these incursions as "hybrid warfare," while NATO launched operation "Eastern Sentry" to bolster its eastern flank. The Government of Russia has dismissed these claims as "baseless accusations."

In response to the threat, defense ministers from 10 EU countries agreed to establish a "drone wall." Dutch State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman described the incursions as "unacceptable" and stated a need for more air-defense systems, warning that drone operators face potential imprisonment.