NATO & Defense

Netherlands plans major investment to upgrade NATO tanker aircraft

Photo: NLDefense

The Dutch Ministry of Defence is set to make a major investment in NATO tanker aircraft, announcing plans to modernise the alliance’s shared refuelling fleet to keep it operational well beyond 2035. The upgrade will take the form of a so‑called midlife update of the Multi‑Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

Minister for Arms Procurement and Personnel Derk Boswijk said the Netherlands expects to invest between €50 million and €250 million in the programme. With this modernisation, the Netherlands will continue to meet its NATO commitments while ensuring that the MRTT aircraft remain globally deployable as tankers, transport aircraft and medical evacuation platforms, according to Boswijk.

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