On 28 April 2026, the European Air Transport Command (EATC) welcomed a delegation of Defence Attachés from NATO and Indo-Pacific (IP4) partner nations in the Netherlands as part of the annual Spring Tour organised by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
The programme at Eindhoven Air Base focused on enhancing the delegation’s understanding of the multinational organisations based there, with EATC playing a central role. The visit was formally opened with welcoming remarks by Major General Franck Mollard, Commander EATC, followed by a series of briefings delivered by EATC and the Movement Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE).
During the EATC briefing, General Mollard presented the Command’s unique multinational business model, designed to optimise the use of strategic and tactical air mobility assets contributed by its member nations. The discussion also addressed the evolution of this model since EATC’s establishment, contrasting its origins in a post-Cold War “peace dividend” environment with today’s more complex and demanding security landscape.
Particular attention was given to Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) as a critical enabler of modern air operations. The delegation gained insight into how EATC coordinates multinational AAR missions, contributes to standardisation and interoperability, and enhances operational effectiveness across participating nations.
Following the briefings, the delegation conducted a short visit to the Mission Control Room, where they were introduced to the core of EATC’s operational activities. They gained insight into the planning, tasking, and real-time monitoring of multinational air mobility missions, highlighting the complexity and coordination required to synchronise assets across multiple nations.
A highlight of the visit was a live AAR demonstration flight aboard a Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) A330 MRTT aircraft. During the sortie, Dutch F-35 fighter aircraft were successfully refuelled, providing the Defence Attachés with a first-hand view of the precision, coordination, and multinational cooperation required to conduct in-flight refuelling operations, and illustrating the operational value of pooled and shared capabilities.
The programme concluded with an informal gathering at EATC, offering an opportunity for further exchanges in a relaxed setting and reinforcing the professional connections established throughout the day.