NATO: Transport measures agreed
01 May 2003
NATO defence ministers agreed steps to improve the alliance's strategic airlift and sealift capabilities at the 12 June meeting in Brussels. A letter of intent was signed by ministers of 10 European countries and Canada, coordinated by Norway to provide an interim capability of 12-14 chartered ships for strategic sealift, primary roll-on/roll-off vessels to transport the NATO Response Force. A Sealift Co-ordination Cell will be co-located with the Airlift Co-ordination Cell in Eindhoven in the Netherlands. In a move coordinated by Germany, 11 European ministers and Canada signed a letter of intent to provide an interim strategic airlift capability. This will be based on chartered An-124-100 aircraft to be available by 2005. This might be complemented by Boeing C-17 Globemaster and other suitable aircraft if there is more money. The UK was not mentioned as a signatory of the letters of intent although it was involved in an earlier memorandum of understanding on the Sealift C-ordination Cell.
Jane's Defence Weekly 18.6.03 (John Berg)