Jet Fighter Eurofighter Assigned to Unique Mission on Ship (MV)

The Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Eurofighter combat jet operations have been temporarily relocated from Wittmund Air Base to Laage due to extensive renovations at the former. These upgrades, which include a complete runway rebuild, a new control tower, and broad infrastructure improvements, are part of a €774 million investment plan to transform Wittmund into Germany’s most modern NATO air base by 2031-2032.

The relocation, which began in 2019, is expected to last for about three and a half years. The first six jets returned to Wittmund on July 17, 2025, but operations have resumed in a limited capacity since then. The QRA role itself is expected to return by mid-2026.

Until then, the QRA will continue to be operated from Laage. Activated when civilian aircraft contact is lost or Russian military aircraft are identified over the Baltic Sea, the Eurofighter combat jets from the Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen" will continue to operate from Laage as an alternative base for the QRA.

The Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen" and Tactical Air Force Wing 73 "Steinhoff" provide the technical personnel for operating the QRA from Laage. The Richthofen Wing is currently relocated to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and shares the airbase in Laage with the pilots from the Tactical Air Force Wing 73 "Steinhoff".

The armed aircraft known as the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) will remain stationed at the airbase in Laage, northeastern Germany, until the second half of 2026. The Richthofen Wing will continue to keep at least four Eurofighters equipped with guided missiles and live ammunition for the on-board cannon ready for deployment in Laage around the clock.

Maintaining and ensuring air superiority in NATO and national airspace is a core task of the Air Force. The German Armed Forces use Eurofighter combat aircraft to intercept high and fast-flying aircraft. The QRA aircraft in Laage can be in the air within a few minutes at any time due to ongoing renovation work in Wittmund. The QRA, usually consisting of two aircraft, must be in the air 15 minutes after activation, but can be reduced to as little as two minutes depending on the threat level.

Alternative bases for the QRA are located in Nörvenich near Cologne and in Laage near Rostock. The Richthofen Wing will return to their home base in Lower Saxony, Wittmund, once the renovation work is completed.

In addition to pilots and combat jets, the Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen" provides the technical personnel for operating the QRA. The operations from Laage are a testament to the German Air Force's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its airspace.

The relocation of the QRA Eurofighter combat jets to Laage has been facilitated by extensive renovations at Wittmund Air Base, which is part of a larger €774 million investment plan. Despite the relocation, the Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen" continues to operate from Laage, ensuring finance, industry, and aerospace interests in maintaining and ensuring air superiority in NATO and national airspace.