Cottbus-Drewitz Airport

The primary reason for closure was geopolitical and economic. The end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany eliminated its strategic military purpose. The East German Air Force was disbanded, and the Soviet/Russian forces withdrew. Subsequent attempts to operate it as a self-sustaining regional civil airport proved to be economically unviable, leading to its final decommissioning and the decision to repurpose the land for a more profitable use.

The site has been completely transformed and is now home to the 'Solarpark Jänschwalde' (also known as Solarpark Flugplatz Drewitz), one of Germany's largest photovoltaic power plants. The vast arrays of solar panels are installed directly on the former main runway, taxiways, and aprons. While the aviation infrastructure has been removed, the layout of the solar farm clearly follows the airport's original footprint. Some of the original hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) and peripheral military buildings still exist and are used for storage or are abandoned.

The airport has significant Cold War history. Originally built for the German Luftwaffe in the 1930s, it became a major frontline air base after World War II. It was home to the East German Air Force's (NVA LSK/LV) premier fighter wing, Jagdfliegergeschwader 1 (JG-1) 'Fritz Schmenkel'. This unit operated some of the most advanced Soviet-made aircraft in the Warsaw Pact, including the MiG-21 and, notably, the highly capable MiG-29 'Fulcrum'. The base also hosted Soviet Air Force units, including tactical bombers like the Su-24 'Fencer'. After reunification, the German Luftwaffe briefly took control of the MiG-29s at this base before they were integrated into a new unit and moved to Laage Air Base. The former ICAO code for the active airport was EDCF.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The site has been permanently and comprehensively repurposed as a large-scale solar power plant. The removal of the extensive photovoltaic installations and the complete reconstruction of runways, taxiways, and airport infrastructure would be prohibitively expensive and is not under any consideration. The land's use is now firmly established in the renewable energy sector.