New initiative of NATO

Seven NATO members have announced that they will cooperate on the development of new maritime multi-mission aircraft.

Defense Ministers from France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey signed a Letter of Intent on “Cooperation on Multinational Maritime Multi Mission Aircraft Capabilities,” which aims to replace ageing maritime patrol aircraft fleets with new maritime anti-submarine and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft and a possible joint acquisition.

NATO sees it as important that European members maintain high-end maritime capabilities, and sees a consortium for the purchase of maritime patrol aircraft as a cost-effective way for Alliance members to build a robust set of capabilities, at a time when NATO’s maritime flanks are increasingly turbulent, contested, and competitive.