Pferdsfeld Air Base

Military downsizing and restructuring. Following the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany, the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) underwent significant reduction. The resident wing, Jagdbombergeschwader 35 (JaboG 35), was disbanded, and the base was deemed surplus to military requirements.

The former air base has been completely converted into a civilian industrial and technology park. The primary user is the 'Test- und Eventcenter Pferdsfeld', an automotive proving ground operated by a consortium including the Mercedes-Benz Group, Bosch, and TÜV Rheinland. The extensive runway and taxiway system are used for vehicle dynamics testing, driver safety training, and autonomous driving development. Additionally, a large portion of the site has been developed into a significant photovoltaic park (solar farm), contributing to renewable energy production. The hardened aircraft shelters and other military infrastructure have been repurposed or demolished.

Pferdsfeld Air Base (former ICAO: ETSP) was a significant frontline fighter-bomber base for the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) and NATO during the Cold War. Construction began in 1957 as part of West Germany's integration into NATO. It initially hosted Leichte Kampfgeschwader 42 (LeKG 42) flying the F-84F Thunderstreak. In 1967, the unit was re-equipped with the F-104G Starfighter and renamed Jagdbombergeschwader 35 (JaboG 35). From 1986 until its closure, JaboG 35 operated the F-4F Phantom II. The base's primary mission was air-to-ground attack and tactical reconnaissance, playing a crucial role in NATO's defense posture against potential Warsaw Pact aggression in Central Europe.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Pferdsfeld as an airport. The site has been thoroughly and successfully repurposed for industrial and automotive testing use. The infrastructure has been significantly altered to suit its current function, making a conversion back to an active airfield highly improbable and economically unfeasible.