On 8 January 2026, the European Air Transport Command (EATC) welcomed Lieutenant-General Marc Le Bouil, Commander of the French Air Combat Command, to its headquarters in Eindhoven. The visit highlighted the strong and enduring cooperation between EATC and France in the field of military air mobility.
Upon arrival, General Le Bouil was received by the Commander of EATC for an official welcome, followed by a short office call. The visit continued with an introductory briefing providing a comprehensive overview of EATC’s mission, organisational structure, and multinational operating framework.
During the briefing, the Chief-of-Staff presented EATC’s business model, placing particular emphasis on the Command’s future role in close cooperation with NATO in both Article 5 and pre-Article 5 scenarios. Among others, the presentation highlighted that EATC is fully operational and functional, constitutes the largest military air mobility provider in Europe, and delivers accessible and timely air mobility services to its member nations. It furthermore underlined EATC’s ability to provide high-level global support during crisis response operations.
General Le Bouil welcomed EATC’s operational ambition and its growing role within the Euro-Atlantic security architecture, stating:
“EATC is a cornerstone of European military air mobility. Its ability to deliver timely, accessible and multinational air transport services, while preparing for closer integration with NATO, is essential for our collective readiness and crisis response.”
The visit also carried a strong human dimension. By engaging directly with the French personnel serving at EATC, General Le Bouil expressed his appreciation for their daily commitment within a multinational environment and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining close ties with service members appointed abroad. His presence highlighted the value placed on people as a key enabler of operational effectiveness and multinational cooperation.
Following the briefing, General Le Bouil visited EATC’s Mission Control (MICON) Centre before joining a standing lunch with senior French representatives and Senior National Representatives from EATC’s member nations. The visit concluded with a group photo and the signing of the guest book.
The event reaffirmed the close ties between EATC and the French Air Combat Command and underscored their shared commitment to strengthening multinational air mobility capabilities in support of current and future operational challenges.