Key facts
- NATO will launch a strategic airlift fleet of Airbus A400M transport planes.
- NATO will add an A330 MRTT tanker aircraft to its fleet, bringing the total to 10.
- The Netherlands will announce over €3 billion in defence deals and plans at a NATO forum in Ankara.
- Allies are unveiling arms deals worth billions of dollars at the forum.
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that air power is essential for strengthening deterrence and defence.
NATO is set to launch a strategic airlift fleet of Airbus A400M transport planes and enhance its existing fleet of A330 MRTT tanker aircraft. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the initiatives at a defence industry gathering in Ankara, emphasizing the importance of air power for the alliance's deterrence and defence capabilities. The A330 MRTT project, currently based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, will add one aircraft to its fleet of nine, moving closer to a long-term goal of 12 tankers. Several European nations, including Belgium, Germany, and Sweden, participate in this programme. The Netherlands is also expected to announce over €3 billion in defence deals and plans at the forum, including partnerships on air defence and naval ships, as allies collectively unveil arms deals worth billions of dollars. These announcements come amid U.S. President Donald Trump's calls for European nations to increase their defence spending.