Wittstock Air Base

The air base was closed following the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the reunification of Germany. Its closure was a direct result of the Two Plus Four Agreement (Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany), which mandated the withdrawal of all Soviet military forces from German territory. The last Russian units, primarily the 33rd Fighter Aviation Regiment, departed in June 1994, and the facility was handed over to German authorities.

The former air base has been extensively repurposed. The vast area, including parts of the main runway and taxiways, is now home to the 'Solarpark Alt Daber', one of Germany's largest photovoltaic power plants, which generates renewable energy. Many of the original military structures, such as hardened aircraft shelters (HAS), hangars, and administrative buildings, still exist in various states of decay, attracting urban explorers and historians. The site is a prominent example of military conversion, transforming a Cold War symbol into a center for green energy production.

Wittstock Air Base, also known as Alt Daber, has significant Cold War history. Originally constructed for the German Luftwaffe around 1938, it was seized by the Soviet Army after World War II. It became one of the most important frontline air bases for the 16th Air Army of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG). The base was home to elite Soviet fighter regiments, including the 33rd and 773rd Fighter Aviation Regiments. Its primary historical distinction is being the first air base outside of the Soviet Union to receive the highly advanced Mikoyan MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighter aircraft in 1986. Throughout the Cold War, it also operated other key aircraft like the MiG-23 'Flogger'. Its strategic location in East Germany made it a critical asset for potential Warsaw Pact operations against NATO.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Wittstock Air Base for aviation purposes. The massive investment in and construction of the solar park on the airfield's operational surfaces make any return to aviation activity logistically and economically unfeasible. The site's future is firmly rooted in renewable energy generation and the gradual decay or potential redevelopment of its remaining Cold War-era structures.