The Commander of the European Air Transport Command (EATC), Major General Franck Mollard, attended the 23rd Berlin Security Conference (BSC) on November 19-20, 2024. This pivotal event brought together international security experts, military leaders, and policymakers to discuss emerging challenges and innovative solutions for global security. Held annually in Berlin, the conference has established itself as a key forum for addressing pressing defence issues and driving meaningful solution propositions.
EATC’s Core Mission and the Relevance of the BSC
This year’s BSC discussions resonated deeply with EATC’s core mission: ensuring that European airlift and air-to-air refuelling capabilities remain effective, interoperable, and adaptable to both military and humanitarian needs.
As global security challenges evolve—encompassing humanitarian crises, intensifying geopolitical tensions, and escalating interstate conflicts—EATC’s role in delivering seamless air mobility support has grown increasingly critical. General Mollard’s presence at the conference underscores air mobility's vital contribution to addressing these multifaceted challenges. From transporting essential supplies to enabling troop deployments and medical evacuations, airlift and refuelling capabilities form an important backbone of crisis response strategies, ensuring rapid, efficient, and coordinated action.
EATC’s ability to harmonize these efforts across multiple nations exemplifies its indispensable role in European and NATO operations, cementing air mobility as a cornerstone of strategic readiness.
Key Discussions at the 23rd BSC
The conference spotlighted several emerging security challenges that align directly with EATC’s responsibilities. Among the most significant was the growing demand for enhanced agility and flexibility in military logistics and air mobility. As the nature of geopolitical tensions shifts from localized intra-state conflicts to large-scale interstate confrontations, the need for swift and efficient transportation of troops, equipment, and supplies has become paramount.
Another central topic was the concept of deterrence, which varies significantly across Europe. For some nations, such as Sweden and Finland, deterrence entails an all-of-society approach to defence, emphasizing resilience and national cohesion. In contrast, the Baltic States prioritize demonstrating their resolve to "fight back and win" to dissuade potential aggression. Regardless of these regional nuances, NATO's deterrence credibility heavily relies on robust air mobility. This capability ensures rapid force projection, logistical support, and operational sustainability—core components of a credible defence posture. Former EATC Commander, General Chris Badia, encapsulated this notion by emphasizing the need for "more interoperability, more force enablers, and more mobility" as foundational elements of modern deterrence.
EATC’s coordinated approach to air transport, medical air evacuation and air-to-air refuelling ensures that its member nations can respond promptly to crises of any scale. As highlighted during the BSC, multinational military operations—particularly those led by NATO—depend heavily on robust and well-orchestrated logistical support to maintain operational momentum. By aligning and optimizing air transport capabilities across member states, EATC ensures mission effectiveness and timely execution.
The integration of cutting-edge technology was another focal point of the conference. Discussions centred on how innovations such as unmanned aerial systems, artificial intelligence, and satellite communications are reshaping the dynamics of military operations, including logistics and air transport. These technologies promise to enhance situational awareness, improve efficiency, and increase the speed of decision-making in future conflict scenarios.
EATC has long embraced the challenge of adapting to a rapidly changing global security environment. Since its establishment in 2010, it has maintained a flexible, secure, and forward-looking air mobility network. The development of its proprietary multi-user software, MEAT (Management of European Air Transport), serves as a prime example of EATC’s commitment to integrating advanced technologies to optimize its operations.
Collaboration remained a central theme throughout the BSC, particularly the need for stronger partnerships among European and international defence actors. As security threats become more diverse and interconnected, unified efforts between partner nations, defence agencies, and international organizations are crucial. EATC’s unique role as a European air mobility hub enables seamless cross-border cooperation, providing a collective response to crises and bolstering Europe’s defence resilience.
Conclusion
The 23rd Berlin Security Conference provided a vital platform for discussing the future of global security and military operations, including the indispensable role of air mobility. It reaffirmed the importance of multinational collaboration in overcoming the challenges of air transport, medical air evacuation and air-to-air refuelling, solidifying EATC’s strategic model.
As Europe faces an increasingly unpredictable security landscape, EATC continues to lead efforts to ensure its air mobility operations remain agile, innovative, and ready to respond to emerging threats. Through strengthened partnerships, technological advancements, and operational excellence, EATC remains steadfast in its mission to support the security and stability of Europe and its allies.