On Mar。 23rd, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended a ceremony at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands to mark the initial operational capability of a Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft fleet. Officials from Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, and the European Union were also present.
The fleet, which is “now ready for a full range of missions,” will provide world-class air-to-air refueling, air transport, and air medical evacuation capabilities, according to Mr. Stoltenberg. He emphasized the significance of tanker aircraft as the backbone of Allied air power, stating that the fleet had already proven its value since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the past year, the fleet has flown over 500 missions, refueling hundreds of NATO fighter jets to safeguard Allied airspace. The aircraft have also aided in evacuating civilians and refugees from Afghanistan, participated in exercises with key NATO partners in the Indo-Pacific, and will later this year deploy to the Middle East to support operations against ISIS.
The European Defence Agency, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency collaborated to develop this state-of-the-art fleet. Mr. Stoltenberg praised the fleet as an excellent example of how NATO and the EU work together to deliver critical capabilities for their members. He further commended the European Allies for strengthening their shared security by stepping up for their defense.
Currently, the fleet has seven aircraft in service, with two more expected to join in 2024 and the tenth aircraft scheduled for delivery at the end of 2026. The Secretary General’s presence at the ceremony highlights the significance of the event and the critical role the fleet will play in maintaining NATO’s air power.
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