NATO launches strategic air fleet, plans Triton drone acquisition

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced a series of major multinational capability initiatives at the NATO Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, including plans to establish a strategic air transport fleet, expand the alliance's aerial refueling capabilities, and acquire new surveillance aircraft and drones.

Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit, Rutte said the alliance will launch a multinational strategic transport fleet built around Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, Defence24 reports.

He also announced that NATO's existing fleet of Airbus A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport aircraft will be expanded with the addition of one more aircraft.

In a separate initiative, NATO allies intend to acquire up to five Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance drones. Norway, Finland, Germany, and Denmark signed a letter of intent for the planned procurement.

If completed, the acquisition would mark NATO's first purchase of the MQ-4C Triton, complementing the alliance's existing fleet of RQ-4D Phoenix intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drones based at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, Italy.

Rutte also announced plans for NATO to procure 10 Saab GlobalEye airborne surveillance aircraft to replace the alliance's aging fleet of AWACS airborne early warning and control aircraft.

By Vafa Guliyeva