Kaufbeuren Air Base to host new missile defense systems

The Kaufbeuren Air Base, located south of the city of Kaufbeuren, is set to expand its role beyond its current function as a training site for the Bundeswehr. In the coming years, the facility is expected to play a key role in ground-based air defense by hosting a new missile defense system designed to combat aerial threats.

The 231-hectare site currently employs approximately 335 soldiers and 166 civilian staff. It features around 190 buildings, including training facilities, accommodations, and administrative structures. For training purposes, the base utilizes Eurofighter and Tornado aircraft. While the site has a long military history dating back to the mid-1930s, the proposed deployment of the new missile defense system has met with criticism from some quarters.