Broyes-lès-Pesmes Air Base

The air base was closed as a direct result of France's withdrawal from NATO's integrated military command structure in 1966. The base was constructed specifically for use by NATO forces, primarily the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). When French President Charles de Gaulle demanded that all foreign-controlled forces leave French soil, the base became redundant for its original purpose and was returned to French control and subsequently decommissioned.

The site has been completely repurposed and is no longer an aviation facility. A major portion of the former air base, including large sections of the runway, taxiways, and dispersal areas, is now home to the 'Centrale photovoltaïque de la Bégude', one of France's largest solar power plants. The distinctive layout of the runway and taxiways is still clearly visible from satellite imagery, but the surfaces are covered with solar panels or are in a severe state of decay. The remaining land on the former base is used for agriculture and some light industrial or storage activities.

Broyes-lès-Pesmes Air Base was a key piece of Cold War military infrastructure. It was constructed between 1953 and 1955 as a NATO Dispersed Operating Base (DOB). Its strategic purpose was to provide a pre-prepared, hardened location to disperse tactical fighter aircraft away from their main operating bases in the event of a conflict with the Warsaw Pact, thus increasing their survivability against a pre-emptive strike. The base was built to modern NATO standards, featuring a 2,400-meter (8,000-foot) runway, parallel taxiways, and circular dispersal pads ('marguerites') for parking combat aircraft. While fully equipped, it was never permanently garrisoned with flying units; instead, it was maintained in a standby status by a small French caretaker detachment, ready for activation by USAFE units (such as the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing) in a time of crisis. It never saw active operational use before its closure.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Broyes-lès-Pesmes as an airport. The extensive and permanent installation of the large-scale solar farm on the critical airfield infrastructure makes a return to aviation activities functionally impossible. The cost to remove the solar plant and completely rebuild the runway and support facilities would be prohibitive, and there is no strategic or commercial demand for a new airport in this location.