The James Bond films are famous for their iconic secret lairs. These clandestine spots, whether nestled in rugged mountains, on remote islands, or housed in strikingly unique buildings, add a sense of mystery into the secret missions that occur within. Remarkably, there are real military bases around the globe that bear a striking resemblance to these fictional hideouts—places you might not know about. Here are seven such examples.
Pine Gap
This secret military facility, nestled in the heart of the Australia Outback, is a remarkable sight with its expansive white domes. It operates collaboratively between Australian and American forces, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Reconnaissance Office.
Despite its isolated setting, Pine Gap is crucial for global reconnaissance and intelligence operations. It serves as the command hub for numerous spy satellites that orbit over Russia, the Middle East, and China. The site was strategically selected due to its remote location, making it nearly impossible for these signals to be intercepted by spy ships.
Established in 1970, Pine Gap was originally intended to detect nuclear threats and Soviet missiles during the Cold War. Today, it has shifted its focus to aiding the US military by identifying airstrikes and gathering intelligence and data.
Cheyenne Mountain Complex
Situated in central Colorado, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex once served as the headquarters for both the US Space Command (USSPACECOM) and the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). Constructed during the Cold War, its design took advantage of the natural granite mountain to provide protection against Soviet aerial and nuclear threats.
The US Army Corps of Engineers excavated the mountain, and the facility was activated on February 6, 1967. Its purpose was to monitor potential threats to Canadian and American airspace, including foreign aircraft, missile attacks, and space systems.
In 2008, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex’s tracking responsibilities were relocated to the nearby Peterson Space Force Base. Although still operational and under the management of the 21st Mission Support Group, this classified military site now primarily focuses on training personnel and serving as a contingency location if needed.
US Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll
During the Second World War, the US performed an amphibious landing on the island of Kwajalein and never left. There were Japanese troops stationed there who were either captured or killed. A secret military base was established there as the conflict drew to a close, acting as a staging area for Operation Downfall – the planned invasion of the Japanese homeland.
Instead of giving up the island when the war ended, the Americans stayed and established it as one of their command centers for nuclear testing in the Marshall islands. As a result, much of the local population was pushed out, and those who remained worked in labor camps.
With the end of the Cold War, much of the nuclear testing was canceled and the size of the US Army Garrison drastically shrank. That isn’t to say that they left completely, as there’s still a military presence on the island. In fact, the Americans have it leased until 2066.
At present, Kwajalein atoll is home to the Space Fence radar, which is used to track space debris and satellites. It’s also one of five ground stations used to control GPS technology.
Yulin Naval Base
Yulin Naval Base features both above-ground and underground docks for submarines, and satellite images have captured weapons being loaded onto them, though the types and quantities remain unknown. While the base can accommodate warships, its primary function is to harbor nuclear submarines, which are capable of navigating through the semi-submerged tunnel entrance built into the mountainside.
Porton Down
Porton Down, still in operation today, is the world’s oldest chemical warfare research facility. It’s also incredibly controversial. Located in Wiltshire, England, Porton Down began as the War Department Experimental Station in 1916 and opened in response to the German use of chemical weapons in World War I. Those employed there were tasked with researching possible solutions, as well as improving respirators.
Although it remained open during the interwar period, this secret military base was, again, fully staffed during the Second World War, when the research focused on studying newly-discovered German nerve agents and creating British biological weapons. The main criticism of the establishment was that the tests all took place on human subjects – so-called “volunteers” – who were conned into participating. Many died or suffered long-term health consequences from the tests.
Still in operation, Porton Down holds samples of many deadly pathogens, including anthrax, the Black Plague and Ebola. Those who work there are still active in analyzing mysterious chemicals, viruses and pathogens.
Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia
Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia is a secret joint military base run by the British and Americans, situated in the Indian Ocean. Established in 1971, the facility was built following the forced relocation of the native Chagossian population. Originally, it hosted 20 deepwater logistics ships, but later, a naval airfield was established and operated from 1981 to 1987.
Despite its remote location, 1,000 miles from India, Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia has been crucial on numerous occasions. During the onset of the Iraq War, it provided essential logistical support. Until the Americans could set up their own bases on enemy territory, the island served as a critical site for aircraft operations.
In recent years, the facility has gained importance for tracking satellites and deep space objects using Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance systems.
Volkel Air Base
There are only three places in the world that don’t show up on Google Maps, including the last entry on our list of secret military bases: Volkel Air Base. It’s not exactly clear why it can’t be found, especially as it’s easily located by those living in the area. The most popular theory is that it has stored weapons for the US Air Force since the Cold War. This hasn’t been commented on by the Dutch Minister of Defence, but leaked documents indicate there are these types of weapons in the Netherlands.
Volkel Air Base was actually created by the occupying Germans in 1940, first for use as a diversionary base for Allied bombings, and, later, as a fully-operational Luftwaffe base. Following Allied attacks on the airfield as part of Operation Market Garden, the Germans were no longer able to use it. The Royal Air Force (RAF) briefly did, however, after they gained control of the area.
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In 1949, the base was used by the Dutch Naval Aviation Service (MLD) for training, before being restored to a functional airfield by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (FNLAF) a year later. It’s still in use today, and may or may not have nuclear weapons.