NATO members commit to buy air tankers ( 2003-10-09 10:05) (Agencies)
Nine NATO nations
committed Wednesday to establishing a multinational fleet of air-to-air
refueling tankers.
The refueling fleet is part of a package of measures agreed a year ago by
NATO leaders to modernize the military alliance so it can respond quickly to
threats around the world.
Other plans include leasing of big transport planes and ships; equipment to
guard against radiation, poison-gas, or germ warfare; secure communications and
jamming gear; ground surveillance; precision-guided munitions; defensive
missiles and special forces.
Part of the plan is for nations to save money by sharing resources.
Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland and Portugal
joined a Spanish-led working group to acquire the air-to-air refueling planes.
Spain also joined 12 other nations who signed up in July to acquiring
transport planes.