NATO on tankers and MPA - AIN

NATO Joint Tanker/Transport and MPA Programs Advance

by David Donald

 - February 21, 2018, 5:12 AM

Canada has joined the multinational MPA program with an eye on replacing its CP-140 Aurora aircraft. In recent years they have been supporting Operation Impact, the Canadian anti-Daesh effort over Iraq and Syria - Photo: Per Gram

Last week, two of NATO’s high-profile multinational programs took major steps forward. On February 14, Belgium signed up to become part of the European multi-national tanker/transport force, joining Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway. On the following day two more countries joined NATO’s joint maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) program, adding impetus to a growing effort to replace aging MPAs in Europe and Canada.

Known as the MMU (MRTT Multinational Unit), the tanker/transport effort was launched in July 2016 to provide a pool of refueling and troop/freight-carrying aircraft, thereby reducing European reliance on U.S. airlift and tanker assets. The program was initiated by Luxembourg and the Netherlands, which placed an initial order for two Airbus A330MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) aircraft. With additional nations­—notably Germany—subsequently joining the program, the order had been increased to seven.

Now, with Belgium joining after acting as an official observer for some time, an eighth A330MRTT has been added to the order. The country has also acquired the rights to up to 1,000 flight hours per year, which can be accessed as soon as the first aircraft is delivered. The fleet is due to be delivered between 2020 and 2024, to be centrally based at Eindhoven in the Netherlands, currently home to the KDC-10 tanker/transports of the Dutch air force. There will also be a forward operating base at Cologne in Germany. The aircraft can be configured for air-to-air refueling, the transport of passengers and cargo, as well as medical evacuation missions.

On February 15, a day after Belgium’s announcement, a signing ceremony was held in Brussels to welcome two new members—Canada and Poland—to the multinational “Cooperation on Multinational Maritime Multi Mission Aircraft Capabilities” initiative. This was launched in June 2017 by France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, which signed a Letter of Intent concerning the joint acquisition or development of new aircraft to replace aging maritime anti-submarine and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft.

“This joint effort recognizes the fact that the majority of Allies’ maritime patrol aircraft fleets will be reaching the end of their operational lives between 2025 and 2035,” said NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller during the signing ceremony. She further encouraged the participants to “push on to the implementation phase. The goal here isn’t just a drawing board design—we need a new generation of aircraft, in the air, fulfilling what is an increasingly important mission.”

At some point this year the participating nations are scheduled to have completed a definition document outlining future MPA capability requirements. This should provide the foundation for developing and fielding follow-on solutions.

Canada has operated the P-3 Orion-based CP-140 Aurora in the MPA role for many years, while Poland has earlier outlined a maritime patrol requirement under the program name Rybitwa. The initial partners have a need to replace P-3 Orions and Atlantiques, or to increase their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.

Possible candidates to meet the multinational requirement are expected to be from the “high end” of the MPA marketplace, with a robust and modern ASW capability, but also with the ability to perform some overland ISR duties. Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon has already been selected independently by Norway and the United Kingdom, and is likely to be promoted heavily on account of its interoperability and the potential for centralized servicing and maintenance. However, the inclusion of Canada in the group may influence the selection of a Boeing product. Saab’s Global 6000-based Swordfish could be a contender, and it is likely that Airbus would offer an MPA version of its A319 airliner.