EATC has shared its latest “fleet review report 2020” with its member nations. This internal document gives the national authorities an overview on the use of each type of aircraft including availability, executed flight hours and number of missions performed. COVID-19 prevention measures had a decreasing influence on the overall activity of all types of the EATC fleet – strategic, tactical, wide and narrow body – as major exercises were cancelled, and missions were shortened in time and volume.
In 2020, new assets such as two Belgian Falcon 7x reinforced the EATC fleet as well as the three first A330 MRTT aircraft, imbedded with the multinational MRTT unit (MMU). The number of the latter will increase to nine assets by 2024.
In total the number of A400M assets rose from 53 to 62 during 2020. The A400M strategic range capability offers new opportunities to plan and execute missions together with the ability to deliver into tactical locations. In 2025 EATC will have 102 A400M under its command and control.
The report also shares observations that might impact possible future operations or national needs.
In short, the document offers the member nations a basis to make better use of the pooling & sharing concept and informs on EATC’s role to coordinate and plan missions on their behalf.