Weapons deployed after drones spotted over Nato air force base

Volkel air base
The drones were spotted over Volkel Air Base on Friday evening (Picture: Netherlands Ministry of Defence)

Weapons were deployed against drones spotted above an air force base in the Netherlands, where Nato recently held its nuclear deterrence drills.

The incident happened over Volkel Air Base, in the southeastern province of Noord Brabant, near the border with Germany, between 7pm and 9pm on Friday.

Security staff attempted to shoot down the aircraft, but they departed and were never recovered, the Dutch ministry of defence said.

A statement from the ministry said the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and the police were notified, adding: ‘They are conducting a further investigation. It is currently unclear why the drones were flying above and around the air bases.

‘For security reasons, the Ministry of Defence is not providing further information about how the drones were sighted or what action was taken.’

Authorities said it was unclear why the drones flew in areas where they are not allowed to.

The Volkel Air Base is one of several military airfields in the Netherlands, and one of the three major operational bases of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF).

It is home to two F-35 squadrons and also hosts a US Air Force 703rd Munitions Support Squadron. 

The base monitors and intercepts unidentified aircraft, often coordinated with Belgium and Luxembourg.

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