C-17 Globemaster III : three new planes for NATO-Europe.

[ElcoB]

Because of the urgent operational need for strategic airlift, the SAC nations intend to conclude contract negotiations this year, and have the goal of receiving the first C-17 by the middle or end of next year. Plans are already underway to identify pilots for training at US Air Force facilities. Additional planes are called for to be delivered every six months. Thus the initial operating capability is planned for 3rd Quarter, 2007 with full operating capability in 2009.

The concept behind the SAC is similar to the SALIS (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution) arrangement, which involves the chartering of An-124 aircraft. The 13 NATO nations will fly the planes based on sovereign national requirements. While these national requirements will often be related to NATO operations, they may also be exclusively of a national character, or for UN, EU, or other international purposes (e.g., humanitarian airlift and disaster relief).

LOI nations: (Letter of Intent)

Republic of Bulgaria , Czech Republic, Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Italy, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lithuania, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Republic of Poland, Romania, The Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, The United States of America.


NATO PRESS RELEASE 12/09/06

[Gott]

Do you know were these planes will be based?
"Our" AN-124 are usally in business. But sometimes like yesterday you can count 3 (!) of them.

[ElcoB]

Do you know were these planes will be based?
"Our" AN-124 are usally in business. But sometimes like yesterday you can count 3 (!) of them.

In addition to the LOI, the 13 nations have developed a plan to create “NATO Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC)” based at Ramstein Air Force Base. Initially comprised of 3 to 4 C-17s, the SAC will be flown by multinational aircrews (pilots and loadmasters) and a multinational military structure will be created to command and control the aircraft.