Fighter jet shifts its location from Laage to Wittmund, marking its return to its original base.
The long-awaited return of Eurofighter jets to the Wittmund airbase in East Frisia is set to take place on July 1, 2025. This marks the resumption of operations at the modernized NATO airbase, which has been undergoing comprehensive renovations since 2019.
The Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen" in Wittmund, one of four Eurofighter locations of the Luftwaffe, will once again call the airbase home. The airbase, which houses the northern Quick Reaction Alert responsible for securing German airspace, has been temporarily relocated to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rostock-Laage due to the modernization works.
The modernization project, with estimated investments of around 774 million euros, includes the renovation of the three-kilometer-long start and landing runway, as well as the upgrading of the building infrastructure. The lighting systems and taxiways at the Wittmund airbase were also completely renewed during the renovation.
The need for modernization stems from the infrastructure being insufficient for Eurofighter flight operations after more than 60 years. The relocation of the Eurofighters from Laage back to Wittmund is a significant step towards making the airbase the most modern military airport in Germany by 2032.
The costs for the renovation of the runway alone are estimated by the building management to be around 155 million euros. With the relocation of the Eurofighters, the soldiers and civilian employees of the Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen" will return to their base in Wittmund.
The Tactical Air Force Wing 73 "Steinhoff" in Laage, the sister unit to the Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen" in Wittmund, has been temporarily hosting the soldiers and civilian employees during the renovation period. The first combat jets are expected to land in Wittmund on July 1, 2025, at 3:00 PM, marking a significant milestone in the modernization project.
[1] Source: https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus163781334/Luftwaffe-Eurofighter-Jets-kehren-nach-Wittmund-zurueck.html
The Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen"'s return to Wittmund airbase, one of the four Eurofighter locations of the Luftwaffe, signals a significant shift in the aerospace industry, as the modernized NATO airbase will once again play a crucial role in German airspace finance, with ongoing renovations expected to culminate in the creation of the most modern military airport in Germany by 2032.
The resumption of Eurofighter operations at Wittmund airbase, following an estimated 774 million euros investment in modernization, will include the upgraded infrastructure, renovated runways, and renewed lighting systems, ensuring finance-intensive aerospace operations can be efficiently conducted in the future.
