NATO declares IOC for Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Unit
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| Authorities standing in front of an A330 MRTT aircraft at Eindhoven Air Base, The Netherlands. |
On Thursday March 23, 2023, at Eindhoven AB (ICAO code: EHEH), NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, traveled to the passenger terminal of Eindhoven Air Base, to take part in the ceremony marking the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the new Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft fleet. The fleet, an important example of NATO-European Union cooperation, will perform key functions such as air-to-air refuelling, air transport and medical evacuation.
The event will be hosted by Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands. Ministers and high-level officials from the countries participating in the MRTT project, as well as the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and representatives of other organisations that are facilitating the project, will also take part in the event.
Next to the IOC event, was there another event. The 10th Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft was officially ordered and the contract was signed by:
● Ludivine Dedonder for Belgium
● Siemtje Möller for Germany
● François Bausch for Luxembourg
● Kajsa Ollongren for the Netherlands
● Anne Marie Aanerud for Norway
After the signing of the contract, there were speeches by:
● Jurgen van der Biezen, the commander of the Multinational MRTT Unit
● Kajsa Ollongren, minister of Defence of the Netherlands
● Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market
● Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General
And Jurgen van der Biezen received from Kajsa Ollongren symbolically the IOC status, formed by a model tail of an A330
On the Eindhoven AB tarmac, two A330 MRTT aircraft were located. One in the tanker configuration and one in the MEDEVAC configuration.
The MMF programme (Multinational MRTT Fleet) brings together six European countries: Germany (5,500 flight hours), the Netherlands (2,000 flight hours), Luxembourg (1,200 flight hours), Belgium (1,000 flight hours), Norway and the Czech Republic (100 flight hours each). The acquisition of the ten A330 MRTTs was carried out by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), under the aegis of NATO. The logistics management of the fleet is provided by NSPA, NATO’s support and procurement agency. With the 10th A330, the Belgian Air Force will get to 2000 flight hours.
The event will be hosted by Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands. Ministers and high-level officials from the countries participating in the MRTT project, as well as the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and representatives of other organisations that are facilitating the project, will also take part in the event.
Next to the IOC event, was there another event. The 10th Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft was officially ordered and the contract was signed by:
● Ludivine Dedonder for Belgium
● Siemtje Möller for Germany
● François Bausch for Luxembourg
● Kajsa Ollongren for the Netherlands
● Anne Marie Aanerud for Norway
After the signing of the contract, there were speeches by:
● Jurgen van der Biezen, the commander of the Multinational MRTT Unit
● Kajsa Ollongren, minister of Defence of the Netherlands
● Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market
● Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General
And Jurgen van der Biezen received from Kajsa Ollongren symbolically the IOC status, formed by a model tail of an A330
On the Eindhoven AB tarmac, two A330 MRTT aircraft were located. One in the tanker configuration and one in the MEDEVAC configuration.
The MMF programme (Multinational MRTT Fleet) brings together six European countries: Germany (5,500 flight hours), the Netherlands (2,000 flight hours), Luxembourg (1,200 flight hours), Belgium (1,000 flight hours), Norway and the Czech Republic (100 flight hours each). The acquisition of the ten A330 MRTTs was carried out by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), under the aegis of NATO. The logistics management of the fleet is provided by NSPA, NATO’s support and procurement agency. With the 10th A330, the Belgian Air Force will get to 2000 flight hours.
Report: Joris van Boven and Alex van Noije
Photos: Joris van Boven
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