Europe intends to supply itself on its own (Maj)

(BRUSSELS2) This was one of the major shortcomings observed during Operation Unified Protector in Libya. The European aircraft (French, British, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, etc.), whether for strikes or observation, were only able to accomplish their missions because the Americans provided sufficient tanker resources. A return flight, and crossing the country, indeed requires one or two in-flight refueling. Moreover, this shortcoming was not really discovered during Libya; it was already noted and endorsed in several European Union capability planning documents. The "Libyan" observation has therefore made it possible to accelerate political awareness. And it is now one of the most emblematic projects of European "pooling and sharing".

The Ministers of Defense must indeed ratify, on March 22, a political declaration which will make it possible to start a process allowing its presentation on behalf of the Europeans as one of their contributions to the NATO Summit in Chicago. This project has several objectives: short, medium and long term. " The project starts now; it will be realized as acquisitions are made explained a case expert to B2. But don't expect a miracle right away. “We cannot automatically have multiplied capacities in three to four years. We are rather in a horizon of 2020 ". It is at this point that we can say that the Europeans have a certain autonomy in terms of tanker aircraft.

The project will focus on three points:

1° The increase in refueling capacities - either by purchasing new equipment (as France will do) or acquiring flight hours (as the United Kingdom will do), by pooling existing or future capabilities (as Germany wants to do with the A400M).

2° Training, parking, maintenance.

3. The employment of forces. The four countries that already participate in the European transport aviation command center EATC (Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands) will use it.

(Update) The six "big" countries participate in this project: France (leader), Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Sweden, as well as Belgium, Finland , Greece, Hungary, Portugal.