Unidentified drones were observed near Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands on Friday evening, according to the Dutch defence ministry. The base, located north of Eindhoven, is utilized by the Royal Netherlands Air Force and hosts a US Air Force squadron as part of NATO operations.
The incident, which occurred between 19:00 and 21:00 local time, prompted military personnel to deploy weapons in an attempt to intercept the devices. However, the drones subsequently departed and were not recovered. Dutch police have initiated an investigation into the matter, with officials stating that no further details regarding the drones or specific actions taken would be released due to security considerations.
This event follows a series of similar drone sightings at other Dutch air bases and military installations in neighboring Belgium, Denmark, and Germany in recent weeks. These incidents have reportedly caused disruptions to air traffic and raised security concerns across the region.
Investigations into the origins of these drones have been challenged by the absence of recoverable devices after sightings. Some European officials have suggested these incidents could be linked to "hybrid warfare," specifically mentioning Russia, given that the targeted nations are allied with Ukraine. The Kremlin has consistently denied any involvement in previous incursions of this nature.
In response to the ongoing sightings, defence ministers from ten European Union countries have agreed to collaborate on establishing a "drone wall" for enhanced protection. Additionally, some individual nations are exploring and implementing their own anti-drone defence measures.