From 3 to 7 November 2025, the European Air Transport Command (EATC) successfully deployed a core team to Volkel Air Base to conduct a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) for deployed operations. This milestone activity — the first of its kind — validated EATC’s ability to sustain its core operational functions outside its main headquarters in Eindhoven.
Throughout the week, the Deployed EATC (D-EATC) maintained uninterrupted mission planning, tasking, and monitoring. By replicating full-scale operational activity in a remote environment, EATC demonstrated its capacity to ensure business continuity and strengthen command resilience under dispersed conditions.
Successful Execution and Valuable Insights
The deployment was enabled through close coordination with Volkel Air Base and supporting units. A Belgian Air Force A109 helicopter from the 1st Wing, operating out of Beauvechain Air Base, ensured the team’s rapid insertion and extraction — a decisive element in testing realistic deployment timelines and associated logistics.
On Friday, 7 November, the Commander of EATC, Major-General Franck Mollard, visited the deployed detachment. His engagement with the team underscored the significance of this initiative for EATC’s evolving operational posture. Following the visit, he stated:
“This deployment marks an important step in strengthening EATC’s resilience and readiness. The ability to project our command functions beyond Eindhoven demonstrates that EATC can adapt and deliver under any circumstances. I am proud of the professionalism and dedication shown by our personnel throughout this training.”
Throughout the training, the team rigorously evaluated communication systems, command-and-control (C2) processes, and technical infrastructure under realistic conditions. The PoC generated several key lessons learned:
- The Volkel exercise demonstrated the EATC’s capability to operate effectively from a non-home base under demanding conditions. It highlighted the need for all EATC support branches to retain redundancy, flexibility, and adaptability to withstand operational disruptions in a rapidly evolving environment.
- A key lesson identified is the importance of pre-identifying alternate hubs and ensuring the rapid deployment of essential capabilities. These measures are vital to maintaining near-uninterrupted business continuity during contingency operations.
- Furthermore, the exercise emphasized the necessity of a clearly defined decision-making and escalation matrix for deployment and recall procedures, which will be indispensable for future dispersed operations.
- Finally, the experience at Volkel reinforces the value of regular training in realistic, high tempo, multidomain scenarios to ensure EATC personnel remain responsive, resilient, and fully prepared for emergent operational demands.
Looking Ahead
The Volkel deployment represents a significant step in EATC’s broader transformation towards expeditionary operational capability. The insights gained will directly contribute to the development of a comprehensive Deployed Operations Concept, further reinforcing EATC’s role as a flexible and resilient air mobility command within the European defence framework.
EATC will continue refining the D-EATC model through follow-on trainings in 2026, further testing and strengthening its ability to operate seamlessly — anytime, anywhere.
A sincere thank you goes to Volkel Air Base and the 1st Wing for their outstanding support.