Störmede Air Base

The primary reason for closure was military and geopolitical. The base was a Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile site, and its closure was a direct result of the end of the Cold War, subsequent military budget cuts, and the obsolescence of the Nike missile system. The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) decommissioned its Nike systems in the late 1980s, making the base redundant.

The site has been completely and permanently converted for civilian use. It is now the 'Energie- und Gewerbepark Störmede' (Störmede Energy and Business Park).

- **Solar Park:** The most prominent feature is a large-scale photovoltaic solar park, one of the largest in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, covering a significant portion of the former base, including the launch area. The solar panels are installed on the grounds and on the roofs of remaining buildings.
- **Business Park:** The former barracks and administrative buildings have been repurposed to house various commercial and industrial businesses.
- **Demolition:** Much of the specific military infrastructure, such as launch pads and some bunkers, has been demolished or buried to make way for the new developments.

Störmede was not a traditional air base with runways for aircraft. It was a critical Cold War-era NATO surface-to-air missile (SAM) launch site. Its primary purpose was to defend the airspace of West Germany against potential attack from Soviet bombers.

- **Initial Operations:** The base was established in the early 1960s and was initially operated by the Belgian Air Force (specifically, the 54th Missile Squadron of the 13th Missile Wing) as part of NATO's integrated air defense belt.
- **German Operations:** In 1975, control was transferred to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). It became home to the 3rd Battery of the Flugabwehrraketenbataillon 21 (Air Defense Missile Battalion 21).
- **Infrastructure:** The site consisted of three distinct areas: the barracks and administrative area (C-Area), the missile control and radar area (B-Area), and the launch area with underground missile bunkers (A-Area).
- **Post-Military Use:** After the military closure in 1988, a small portion of the site was briefly licensed as a 'Sonderlandeplatz' (special landing field) for light aviation and gliding. This is where the ICAO designator DE-0807 originates, though it was never a significant airport.

None. There are absolutely no plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airport or air base. The land has been fundamentally and permanently redeveloped into a successful energy and business park. The conversion is complete, and the land is fully occupied by the solar farm and commercial enterprises, making any return to aviation use impossible.