Volkel Air Base: Drones targeted with live fire
Security personnel at Volkel Air Base observed drone intrusions for two hours on November 21, 2025. Air force units fired live rounds at up to ten drones, which departed unaffected.
Background
Incident
On November 21, 2025 at 19:00, security forces at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands reported unidentified drones violating the airspace for two hours. The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) used ground-based weapons with live ammunition to shoot down up to ten drones, but these left the area undamaged.
Witnesses and Response
Base security personnel spotted the objects visually in poor visibility in the dark. Defence minister Ruben Brekelmans later confirmed that five drones were sighted at first and ten later. The military police and the civil police were alerted; the NCTV opened an investigation, and military intelligence is analysing radar data.
Evidence and Context
No details of the drones' size, type, or control were given. A helicopter in the vicinity was ruled out. The incident fits a series of drone incidents at NATO nuclear sites, for example Kleine Brogel. F-35 jets were deployed separately. Significance: an increased security risk for strategic bases.